Parishes go head to head in home produce competition

Orkney’s parishes are set to go head to head in a home produce competition being staged this year.

Organised by Orkney Food and Drink, Homemade in the Parish will see teams from throughout the county submit products across a wide range of categories. A team of judges will sample the produce at an event in Kirkwall on May 3, before deciding on category winners. Members of the public will also have the chance to taste and vote on the food being judged.

Orkney Food and Drink is urging anyone who’d like to get involved in the event – part of the Orkney Year of Food and Drink 2015 initiative – to get together with others from their parish and enter a team.

Parishes will have to enter at least nine of the 12 competition categories, with rosettes and points awarded to the top three products in each class. Each table/parish will also be judged on presentation and their interpretation of the Orkney Year of Food & Drink 2015 theme.

Those interested are asked to register (via the contact us link) at www.orkneyfoodanddrink.com as soon as possible.

Edgar Balfour, development manager for Orkney food, drink and crafts, said: “Everyone in Orkney knows how great our home produce is. It’s a very long tradition here and there’s an enormous amount of pride behind its creation, as anyone who visits the local shows will know.

“We’re sure folk will get behind the event and make it a regular fixture beside our other fiercely contested inter-parish competitions.”