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Welcome to the Highlands & Islands Local Food Network

We are a group of food consumers, farmers, crofters, community groups, retailers and projects from across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who are working together to make fresh, locally grown food more available in our communities.

To use the map - click on one of the category symbols below it - then just click on a symbol on the map to find a food producer near you!

Click any of the following to find out more about them:
Producers, Retailers, Caterers & Producer Groups - IN LIST FORM

STOP PRESS!!!!!

Highlands and Islands Local Food Network – Services Suspended

We regret to announce that all services provided by Highlands and Islands Local Food Network are suspended, with effect from 20 March 2009. This is due to the cessation of project funding by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).  All four Food Network staff will be laid-off.

For the past six months the Network has been working with HIE and other partners to develop a new business plan to expand the availability of local food across the region. The plan projected seven new jobs in HILFN; 400 more farmers and crofters becoming local food producers; and good local food being available in over 100 independent stores and restaurants. Unfortunately, on 10 March 2009, HIE wrote to us to say that they can no longer fund what we do.  See HIE’s letter here.

This outcome is a matter of great regret to HILFN and we can only apologise to all our members, consumers and contacts for the immediate suspension of all of our services.  

Our website – www.hilocalfood.net – remains live, but will not be actively managed.  All our producer members remain open for business and we encourage the 40,000 visitors to the site every month to carry on supporting them and enjoying local food – just click on the map.

Our information services including the local food eZine, ‘Local Bites’ newsletter, and enquiry service are suspended.  Our business advice service to farmers, crofters, food producers and community groups is also suspended, as is our award-winning Local Food Apprenticeship scheme. Our development of new local markets in schools, hospitals and local retailing is on hold.

If you are able to offer practical help please contact our Interim Chairman, Simon Calder.  If you think that the Scottish Government’s new National Food Policy, highlighting the need for more local food should be implemented in the Highlands and Islands, please contact the region’s MSPs.  Click here to find your MSPs contact details.

We are working with Scottish Government and others to try and resolve this situation, and hope to be back in service in a few months time. Thank you for your support through this difficult period.

HILFN Board
17 March 2009

 To read the press releases which have been distributed on this subject recently, please click here.

Due to the above recent turn of events, we are unable to accept new memberships at present. 

Results from our EAT LOCAL CAMPAIGN SURVEY 2008 are now available to view - just click here to see the overall summary or results by region. 

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 To catch up on previous monthly eZines and past copies of our newsletter, 'Local Bites', check out the Library section of this site.