A spectacular Highland Food Map was launched today (Tuesday) at Glachbeg Croft Education Centre on the Black Isle by the Highlands & Islands Local Food Network (HILFN), which producers hope will encourage people to choose fresh, locally produced food and support local farmers and crofters.

The bright and user-friendly food map also comes with a 'Gates Open' invitation to visit the listed farms and crofts, when they open up their gates to the public during September and October as part of Highland 2007, in Scotland's Year of Highland Culture.

"Good food comes fresh from a local farm or croft. That's the simple message of the 'Gates Open' days. We needed to find a way to help people to find food that is locally grown in their area. The Highland Food Map is an innovative guide to encourage people to get out and about and, more importantly, to get tasting!" Said Jo Hunt, network leader with the HILFN.

Twenty seven local food producers appear on the Highland Food Map, including a traditional croft with sheep and field-grown vegetables in Skye, a large hill farm with cattle and deer in Speyside, a salmon farm in Wester Ross and a free range poultry farm in Lochaber.

Mark Georgeson, senior food and drink manager with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said: "There are hundreds of family farms and crofts that can provide local customers with a fantastic range of fresh and tasty food, but finding out where to buy can still be difficult. The 'Highland Food Map' highlights a range of these great local producers and increases access to the food they grow."

This autumn, during weekends throughout September and October, the 27 local producers are running 'Gates Open' days on their farms.  The days are free of charge and open to the public. Visitors will be given a tour and hear the farmer's story of how they produce their food.

In addition, there will also be opportunities to hand feed rare breeds, see organic farming methods in action, watch how cheeses are produced, watch sheep shearing and take part in children's farm activities.

"All the producers with open days will have tasting sessions or barbeques so that their wares can be sampled and purchased on the premises.  Some are even holding mini farmers' markets so you could even go home with a bag full of fresh, varied, local produce," continued Jo Hunt. " So if you're fed up of pacing the supermarket aisles and would like to actually meet the local people who grow food for you - join us for a day out to see round their farms; see how the food is grown and, best of all, have a taste of it!"

You can pick up a copy of the Highland Food Map at farmers markets, farm shops, The Highland Council service points and HIE offices.  Or contact Highlands and Islands Local Food Network on 01381 600525.  The map and full details of all the 'Gates Open' days appear on the web at www.gatesopen.co.uk

Gates Open has been part funded by Highland 2007 as part of Scotland's Year of Highland Culture.  Other funding has been secured from Leader+, HIE and The Scottish Co-operative Community Fund.

Ends

Notes to Editors:
For further details contact Jo Hunt, HILFN Network Leader Tel: 01381 600525 or Mob: 07990 524280

Gates Open - background information

Based on the successful model of 'Doors Open Days' when the public are invited to buildings of interest for a one-off visit, HILFN felt the time was right for the public to be able to do the same with farms and food producers.

After a short consultation process, it became clear that such a scheme would be highly attractive, both to the farmers who hope to find new markets for their produce and to the public who want to find an alternative to supermarket food and who may have no knowledge or understanding of life on a farm.

For more details see www.gatesopen.co.uk

Highlands and Islands Local Food Network  is an independent group of food consumers, producers and community groups working together to increase access to fresh, locally produced food in communities in all parts of the Highlands and Islands.

   HILFN is:
* a social enterprise that ploughs back any profits into new local food development work
* a co-operative managed by an elected team of producers and consumers
* a Fair trade supplier making sure small farms and crofts can stay alive
* part of the UK-wide network  - FoodLinks UK.

   HILFN provides:
* regular local food news
* membership for anyone interested in eating or growing local
* a website and information service for finding and buying local food
* technical advice for farmers and growers - anything from growing asparagus to making venison sausages
* training for farmers and growers  - from a one day workshop on how to price your produce, to a  year-long Local Food Apprenticeship

For more info see www.hilocalfood.net

Note to newsdesks:
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE) is responsible for economic and community development in an area which covers more than half of Scotland, from Shetland to Argyll.  HIE's headquarters are in Inverness and most of its services are delivered through local enterprise companies. The Network employs around 550 people and last year invested more than £100 million to help people living in the Highlands and Islands realise their full potential.

For further information on HIE, log onto www.hie.co.uk

For futher info, please contact
Carole Inglis, HIE Communications at carole.inglis@hient.co.uk or tel: 01463 244552