Swinney welcomes £200,000 for farmers’ markets

Dec 4 2009

SCOTLAND’S farmers' markets are to receive more than £200,000 funding over three years.

The announcement has been welcomed by North Tayside MSP John Swinney, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.

The Scottish Government have confirmed £120,000 to develop and grow farmers' markets around the country, with an extra £97,000 to help individual markets.

It is hoped that the support will increase the number of farmers involved in markets, boost sales of local produce and expand the number of venues across the country, including making markets a more permanent shopping fixture in our communities.

The additional support will be taken forward by a new partnership managed by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), Scottish Food Quality Certification (SFQC) and Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), with other key groups being closely involved.

The £97,000 funding to assist in the running of farmers markets comes from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation scheme within the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

The £120,000 for the strategic development of markets will go to SAOS to fund a Farmers’ Markets National Development Officer post over three years to build on SAOS's development work in the sector over several years.

Mr Swinney said: “Farmers’ Markets are vitally important to rural economies and it is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that they continue to prosper.”