What We Do

The Food trust itself runs stalls at two monthly markets, Carlops and Howgate. Carlops market i(near West Linton on the A702) is on the last Saturday of each month and Howgate, near Penicuik, is on the first Saturday of each month. Products marketed include Fletcher's venison and Errington's cheeses, as well as Simple Simon's Pies and Trusty Crust breads.

Research for the City of Edinburgh, which convinced the Council of the need to establish a regular city centre market. This has now been successfully operating, with great public popularity, for eight years. It provides the citizens of the capital with the opportunity to purchase the finest, freshest, natural foods, all produced close to the city.

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market (EFM) has just won three prestigious awards:

Certified Farmers’ Market of the Year 2007, FARMA

Regional Winner of Britain’s Favourite Farmers’ Market 2006, Country Life Magazine

Over all winner of Britain’s Favourite Farmers’ Market 2006, Country Life Magazine

A paper studying the requirements of people in tenements and apartments to have suitable ground allocated for the growing of fresh vegetables. This was presented to the Scottish Office in 1997, and debated. The many health benefits, and a serious demand shortfall were identified.

A campaign and public research into what the Scottish people wished to have presented as their favourites. This threw up the surprising top choice as Tayside Raspberries, followed by Aberdeen Angus Beef then Smoked Salmon. (Haggis, the research found, was not top choice for a national dish by the majority!)

These are popular events for people seriously interested in all aspects of food.

They provide platforms for speakers such as Scottish Government Minister Ross Finnie, food writer Sue Lawrence, Bard of the Mod Aonghas MacNeacail, and Whisky author Charlie MacLean, amongst others.

These have included public lectures on health and diet, and seminars for hotel and catering students on the benefits of using natural Scottish raw materials.

The Trust worked with primary children from Halyrude School in Peebles, and senior pupils from Blairgowrie High School in Perthshire.

The students were encouraged to produce healthy menus using prime Scottish raw materials. They were then taken to a public lunch of over 100 food lovers where, with the help of professional chefs, the students successfully cooked their own recipes.