A group of key international food buyers have visited a Perthshire farm to learn about Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI and the quality assurance, traceability and animal welfare which underpin the iconic brands.
The buyers, who were attending the Scotland Food and Drink Showcasing Scotland Event (6-9 October) at Gleneagles, headed to Cromlix Estate near Dunblane, owned by the Eden family. Iain Malcolm runs the Cromlix farm business – a suckler herd of 170 cows and 1000 Blackface ewes > in partnership with his wife, Sarah, and son, Angus.
During the farm visit, organised by Quality Meat Scotland, the buyers – from Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada – were able to see first-hand the dedication, care and stockmanship skills behind the production of top quality Scotch Beef PGI.
The farm is a member of QMS’s quality assurance scheme and while on the farm the buyers heard about the importance of animal welfare and about QMS’s “Animal Welfare and Wellbeing Charter” as well as QMS’s partnership with the Scottish SPCA.
Emily Grant of QMS, who joined the buyers on the visit, said they were clearly very impressed with the quality of the animals and the natural environment they are being farmed in.
“Many thanks to Iain Malcolm and family for hosting an excellent visit. The buyers have gone home with a very positive impression of Scottish livestock farming and the dedication behind the production of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb,” said Mrs Grant.
The picture shows the international visitors at Cromlix with farmer Iain Malcolm and his sons Angus and Jack and Emily Grant of QMS.
