Feeding the Interest - Community Food and Health

case studyForthValleyFoodLinksCraigend Farmnear Stirlingreceived agrant fromForth ValleyFood Linksenabling it todiversify intosoft fruits.The farm'sraspberrypreserves aresold locally.Through aseries of sixworkshops,whichbroughttogetherindividualsin centralScotland who had aninterest in food issues, theForth Valley Food Futuresprocess highlighted a lackof diversity in local foodproduction,barriersto access what local produce there was, and a needfor comprehensive advice and information on ways toovercome these difficulties. Local people identified theneed for a new food organisation in the area which wouldaddress these shortcomings and, with funding from theScottish Executive, Forth Valley NHS Boardand Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils, ForthValley Food Links was born in 2002. With an office base inStirling, three Food Links Officers are now working activelywith commercial farmers, retailers, and community groupsacross the three council areas to increase the production,availability and consumption of local food for local people.7