EXPORTERS of Scotland's finest food have long said the country's image abroad of unspoilt landscapes and unpolluted waters is a massive selling point.

Industry figures say just having the word Scotland on the side of their produce's packaging is an invaluable marketing tool.

And now that reputation has helped result in a boom in food exports, with fruit and vegetables leading the way.

A total of £62 million worth of them left the country last year. This was a jump of almost two-thirds on 2010's figure, and up a staggering 161% on 2007.

Potatoes and soft fruit in particular helped increase total Scottish food exports by 9% year-on-year to a record £1.16 billion.

While fish and shellfish remain the highest value export at 56%, up 4% to £648.4m, the unprecedented performance of fresh produce was the surprise entry in the new export figures published by HM Revenue and Customs yesterday.

The top five fruit and vegetable export markets for Scottish produce last year were Spain, up 62.9% to £10.5m; the Netherlands, up 111.3% to £8.8m; Germany, up 101.5% to £7.2m; Italy, down 19.1% but still worth £5.6m; and Egypt, up 83.4% to £4.7m.

France, the Irish Republic, the US, Belgium and Poland have also taken significantly increased volumes of Scottish-grown produce, combining to push food and drink exports to an all-time high of £5.4bn last year, which also included a strong performance in the whisky industry.

Last year whisky export markets were worth a record £4.23bn, 23% up on 2010, and strong growth was achieved in Asia, with 44% increases in both Singapore (£319m) and China (£92m).

The export figures exceeded all expectations, surpassing by six years the Scottish Government's original target of increasing exports to £5.1bn by 2017.

Stewart Miller, of TIO Organics in Forres, Moray, said: "The international image of Scotland is one of beautiful landscapes, unpolluted waters and a soft climate, and a customer in any European country knows a product grown in Scotland will sell at a premium."

Gillian Kynoch, business development manager at Airdrie-based Albert Bartlett potatoes, which produces the popular Rooster brand, said: "We entered the Dutch market last year, selling Roosters through the Albert Hegn supermarket chain and we're also selling in northern French supermarket chain Auchan.

"Next week we are opening a new office in Denver, Colorado, to develop the US market where fresh potatoes are relatively underused. There is undoubtedly an affinity with Scottish products abroad."

Maureen Brogan, who with her husband Tony has been selling fruit and vegetables at Glasgow's wholesale market at Blochairn since 1952, said: "Even having 'Scotland' on a bag of potatoes or carrots or a box of leeks or turnips label is a marketing tool in itself.

"The Scottish climate and quality of our soil is known as excellent for growing and word is obviously getting around."

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Food and drink is a Scottish success story at a time when other industries have struggled and economic conditions have been tough.

"The sky is the limit for Scottish food and drink and I'm sure we will continue to build on this success."

James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said: "These figures are a real bright spot in tough economic times but our export industry has much further still to go.

"From next month, Scottish Development International and Scotland Food and Drink, working with industry, will have a joint dedicated resource on the ground in China to open up opportunities there. That model will be rolled out in other key markets to ensure we maintain the remarkable momentum."