AMIDST THE cows, sheep and tractors, this June's Royal Highland Show will be trying harder than ever to promote the 'farming equals food' message to the general public.

The Highland's Food Hall has long been a popular feature of the show, with its vast range of delicatessen stalls and equally vast range of free samples, but the organisers hope to step it up a gear this year with the launch of 'Scotland's Larder Live!', billed as an 'experiential' food extravaganza that will bring Scotland's larder to the fore.

Showcasing a diverse range of Scottish food and drink - from over 120 producers - the event will refresh the Food Hall by building in more interactivity and visitor engagement. The Cookery Theatre will feature top chefs such as Neil Forbes, Paul Wedgwood, Craig Wilson, David Haetzman and Fred Berkmiller, and tastings and talks will give showgoers the opportunity to meet some of Scotland's finest producers with plenty of audience engagement and participation.

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: "The Food Hall at the Royal Highland Show is, without doubt, always one of the most popular places to visit. Having it rebranded this year as Scotland's Larder Live! really puts the focus - and rightly so - on our fantastic natural larder

"We have some of the best, freshest, tastiest products in the world, and given that we are celebrating the Year of Food and Drink, I think producers at this year's show will be going all out to give visitors their best taste of Scotland, and I would strongly encourage those coming to the show to speak to the producers to hear how our food is made, and to try something new.

"I think it will really prove to people that local, in-season produce that is available on their doorstep is among the very best you can get."

Show manager David Jackson added: "42 per cent of visitors come to the Royal Highland Show to enjoy the food and drink. This year we want to appeal to and attract a new and bigger urban consumer audience by developing and growing our food and drink offering whilst remaining true to our core values.

"The Royal Highland is the only food event in Scotland that links together the farmer, the food producer - sometimes one and the same with farm diversification - and the consumer. With over 120 food and drink producers from across Scotland and the rest of the UK, the Royal Highland is Scotland's Larder Live!"

The Royal Highland Show takes place from June 18 to 21, at the Ingliston Showground, next to Edinburgh Airport.

- For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk