Scottish Food Facts

The following contains information about some of Scotland’s main food production:

Fruit
Scottish fruit producers grow 2,400 tonnes of raspberries and 4,600 tonnes of strawberries each year

Potatoes
Potatoes are grown on more than 3,700 holdings in Scotland. Output is over a million tonnes, worth £104 million. Most of the seed potatoes for the UK potato industry are grown in Scotland

Poultry
In 2005, 853 million eggs were produced in Scotland, with a value of over £30 million

There are approximately 15 million poultry in Scotland – 4 million egg-producing hens and 10 million chickens for meat

Pigs
Scotland has almost 10% of the UK pig herd – around 470,000 - with approx 30% being raised in the North East of the country. Almost all Scottish production is quality assured through Quality Meat Scotland

Dairy
In 2005, Scotland produced 1,307 million litres of milk, worth more than £230 million.

Most dairy farms will be found in the south west of Scotland where grass growth is conducive to high yields

Beef
Scotland produces almost 30% of the UK’s breeding cattle and 4% of the EU herd

Beef is the single most important sector of Scottish agriculture, worth around £400 million a year, of which around £10 million worth is exported

“Specially Selected Scotch Beef” brand is the quality assurance scheme under which most beef is sold.

Sheep
We have around 8 million sheep, raised on hill, upland and lowland, which includes more than 20% of the UK’s breeding flock

The above came from www.nfus.org.uk/facts_whatweproduce.asp

 

Mushrooms
Scotland has two thirds of the 2,500 larger varieties found in the UK, including the Penny Bun and the Chanterelle

The Scottish Wild Mushroom Forum have produced a “Wild Mushroom Code” to ensure sustainability

A Mushroom Festival is held each October in Aberfoyle. See News and Events Section for details.

Fish
Commercial fish farming accounts for about 50% in monetary terms of all Scottish food exports. The industry generates c.£500 million from production and secondary processing (Scotland.gov.uk)

• Over 110,000 visitors fish in Scotland every year (sac.ac.uk)
• Nearly 200 shellfish farming companies are based in Scotland
• Peterhead is the largest white fish landing port in Europe

Key food production areas in Scotland

Soft fruit growing is concentrated in fertile areas such as Tayside, Angus and Fife.

Hard fruit orchards can be found in Lanarkshire and the Borders.

Dairy farms are situated throughout Scotland but particularly concentrated in the mild south west. Cheese-makers can be found everywhere.

Sheep – lowland flocks benefit from a kinder climate, improved soil type and better grazing which combine to produce quality prime lamb. Hill flocks are mainly breeding flocks.

Shellfish
The most productive areas are the West Coast, Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland

Vegetables
Nearly all Scotland’s vegetables are grown along the east coast from the Moray Firth to the Borders. These include peas, beans, Swedes (turnips), calabrese and carrots.

Grains
East Lothian is known as Scotland’s granary. Moray‘s barley is in demand for whisky production.