Carmichael encourages isles participation in rural oscars

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has encouraged people in Orkney and Shetland to get involved in the Countryside Alliance’s “Rural Oscars”.

The awards are in their ninth year and celebrate rural businesses and local produce.  Members of the public can nominate businesses under four categories:

• Local food award
• Village Shop/Post Office award
• Butcher Award
• Start-up award

Mr Carmichael said: “At a time when businesses need to do all they can to grow, this is one small way to help local businesses gain a national reputation for quality.

“We all know that Orkney and Shetland produce is among the finest to be found anywhere. That is no accident but is the result of hard work by local businesses, who decided, years ago, to overcome the disadvantages of their distance from markets by improving the quality of what they produce. This is one small way of letting people in the rest of the world know how good food and drink produced in the isles is.

“We should all get nominating to help support our favourite local businesses.”

Nominations can be submitted at  the Countryside Alliance website.