We all have our favourite foods from traditional dishes such as fresh Scottish fish and chips or haggis, neeps and tatties to more modern options including tasty Scotch beef in a curry made with local herbs and spices or a delicious Scottish cheeseboard.

In Scotland we're lucky to benefit from a spectacular natural larder, with delicious fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, poultry and seafood that are enjoyed at home and around the globe.

In the Year of Food and Drink we have a great opportunity to shout from the rooftops about the quality of Scottish produce. I want that message to be heard in communities across Scotland and in countries around the world - where something produced in Scotland is often seen as a mark of the best foods.

But we also live in a country where too often food is associated with some big challenges facing society such as our poor diets or the rising use of foodbanks with many people unable afford to feed themselves and their families. In a modern food producing nation, we need to do being doing better.

I want everyone in Scotland to have access to fresh healthy, local, sustainable seasonal food.

Local, in-season food shouldn't just be the preserve of upmarket delis and restaurants - though of course we want to see it there. It should be common across convenience stores, cafes, hotels and supermarkets - everywhere food is sold in this country. It should be the choice we all look for and ask for.

That's where our Good Food Nation ambition comes in. Our vision is of Scotland as a country where it is second nature to serve local, fresh healthy, environmentally sound food consistently and across the board.

To help deliver this I have set up a Food Commission, which will meet for the first time in Edinburgh today chaired by award winning chef Shirley Spear. She will lead this work alongside 16 members from a wide range of backgrounds including education, health, food production, retailers, farming, the Youth Parliament and the Poverty Truth Commission.

The commission will play a key role in suggesting ways to improve Scotland's food culture and highlight the importance of good food. Their work will focus on priority areas including food in the public sector, children's food policy, local food, good food choices, continued sustainable economic growth and access to affordable food.

By engaging with the public the length and breadth of Scotland and reporting to Ministers, the commission will help us deliver that vision and make a vital contribution to not only the food we eat but to our health, environment, quality of life and economy.

I am delighted that the group agreed that one of the first actions should be to establish a network of Local Food Champions who will help promote the Good Food Nation vision at a grass roots community level.

Our local network will be vitally important to the journey towards becoming a Good Food Nation. It is essential to get people out there championing locally sourced products in their area and show people that you don't need to go far to find exceptional quality produce; it's right there on their doorstep. This will build on the work of our Happier Mealtimes campaign which is promoting the benefits of eating fresh, local and in-season food for example with a pop-up kitchen travelling Scotland.

We've already made progress, through policies such as Curriculum for Excellence, Food for life, Better Eating Better Learning and Supporting Healthy Choices.

But we can and must do more. I'm looking forward to getting involved in the discussions tomorrow and hearing what I'm sure will be creative and valuable ideas for what more we can do to change the culture around food and drink in Scotland.

I believe that, with the Food Commission on board, we can ensure that people in Scotland opt for fresh, tasty food made with local ingredients first and foremost - whether in their homes or in food they buy - benefitting our people, our country and our economy.

RICHARD LOCHHEAD, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment.