Perhaps you thought the only food products to come out of Scotland was Angus beef, salmon, and strange dishes made with sheep's intestines. But in fact Scotland is home to a strong agricultural sector producing a wide range of fine food products.
Scotland has a varied, rugged terrain so different parts of the country tend to specialise in different products depending on their climatic and topographical qualities. In fact, Scotland's mountainous rugged terrain means that just a quarter of the land is cultivated.
The major food producing areas are as follows. Fife and the Scottish border lands are perfect for growing cereals and root crops such as barley, wheat and potatoes. The mild climatic conditions of Tayside and Angus make them suitable for growing strawberries and raspberries along with cereals. The less arable lands of the north are the focus for sheep rearing and the production of lamb and mutton, and the south-west counties of Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway are centres for beef and dairy products. Scotland is home to around 10,000 cattle and sheep farms.
Fish, both salt and freshwater, is another famous Scottish food product. The northeast and west coasts of the country are the main locations for Scottish sea fishing. The ports of Fraserburgh and Obab, for example, are major zones to process locally caught lobster, crab, herring, haddock and cod. Scotland is renowned too for its salmon which are farmed in the rivers and lochs of the north and west of the country. Scottish trout is another delicacy.
Scotland has a varied, rugged terrain so different parts of the country tend to specialise in different products depending on their climatic and topographical qualities. In fact, Scotland's mountainous rugged terrain means that just a quarter of the land is cultivated.
The major food producing areas are as follows. Fife and the Scottish border lands are perfect for growing cereals and root crops such as barley, wheat and potatoes. The mild climatic conditions of Tayside and Angus make them suitable for growing strawberries and raspberries along with cereals. The less arable lands of the north are the focus for sheep rearing and the production of lamb and mutton, and the south-west counties of Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway are centres for beef and dairy products. Scotland is home to around 10,000 cattle and sheep farms.
Fish, both salt and freshwater, is another famous Scottish food product. The northeast and west coasts of the country are the main locations for Scottish sea fishing. The ports of Fraserburgh and Obab, for example, are major zones to process locally caught lobster, crab, herring, haddock and cod. Scotland is renowned too for its salmon which are farmed in the rivers and lochs of the north and west of the country. Scottish trout is another delicacy.