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Highland Farmers turned down for School Meals Contract

Submitted by Highlands and Islands Local Food Network

2nd August 2007

Photograph of Highland Farmers turned down for School Meals Contract

Highland Council have announced the local food supplies they wish to take for catering in its schools, care homes and canteens. In May, Highlands and Islands Local Food Network (HILFN) submitted a combined bid to the Council to provide 76 conventional and 55 organic products, all from local farms and crofts in Highland.

Local producers offered the Council approximately £600,000 worth out of the £2.5m of food ingredients that Highland Council requires each year. HILFN knew they were unlikely to be the cheapest - even estimating that an extra 7p per meal would be needed to pay for local and organic food.

Out of all this local produce, Highland Council have selected just 4 food products. Local cheese, oatcakes and jam for 'function catering' only (i.e. for Councillors and visitors only). And just one product - mixed salad leaves - to be made available to all 168 schools, 40 care homes and 11 staff canteens.

Jo Hunt, Network Leader with HILFN, commented:

"Clearly we are very disappointed - shocked - by Highland Council's decisions. We have 16 farmers and 96 crofter members can supply over £600,000 of fresh local food straight into school kitchens. Out of this, Highland Council want to order produce worth approximately £4000."

"Just one product! All they want is a local organic salad leaf garnish to sprinkle on top of a meal from Brake Brothers (based in Ashford Kent) and a juice 'packet' from Coca Cola".

"Elsewhere in the European Union cooperative groups of local producers are supplying school meals, under all the same legislation that Highland Council has to obey - we urgently need Highland Council to do the same."

"This isn't just farmers who are losing out - it's school pupils, parents and other local businesses too. For every £10 Highland Council spends with us, we generate an extra £16 of local economic activity. For every £10 they spend with Brake Brothers they create just £4 of local spend."

"If we are to have access to good local food in Highland we need large, public sector customers to take the lead. We have set up a cooperate supply chain run by Highland producers. We need a cooperative response from the Council to make it work."

"HILFN will be seeking a meeting with the Council Convenor, Chair of Education and others to find out how they propose to set meaningful targets and trigger a shift in policy that the will put local food on school plates."

More information on HILFN can be found on their website www.hilocalfood.net.