It is one place that is guaranteed to provide a platform for food- sellers from all over Scotland.

It is one place that is guaranteed to provide a platform for food- sellers from all over Scotland.

Visitors were quick to contrast the vast difference between the annual showcase at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh to the search for homegrown food on the weekly visit to the shops.

While supermarket shelves are set to provide a daily platform for produce from all over the world, there is little regular emphasis on Scottish vegetables, fruit and meat, according to consumers at the event at Ingliston.

Elizabeth Guthrie, of Alloway, near Ayr, said many believe the government has a duty to "provide better (financial) support for farmers to be able to sell their food here and abroad".

She said the demand for Scottish produce is growing, a point reflected by the crowds: "It is the busiest first day I've ever seen here."

Karen and Allan Macdonald, who travelled from just outside Carlisle for the show yesterday, welcomed the plan by First Minister Alex Salmond to hold a supermarket summit.

Mrs Macdonald said larger stores can easily fill the gaps the chains claim are sometimes left as a result of sporadic supply from independent producers.

She said: "The only place you can be sure of getting good local produce is farmers' markets. Small grocers have difficulty keeping up supplies from small farmers but supermarkets can take smaller orders or even seasonal food."

John Smiley, a caterer from Edinburgh, said: "If we can sell Scottish fish and shellfish in Europe why can't we market other foodstuffs?

"People have been fussy about their meat but Scottish-farmed produce is better than the stuff we get from abroad in supermarkets."

The importance of providing shoppers with label guides detailing Scottish ingredients is highlighted by the fact many companies sell much of their produce in Scotland.

Jack Martin, of Galloway Cream Fudge, said he believed entire regions should have a joint marketing strategy to help shore up gaps in supply and aid those less experienced in marketing.

He added: "The public nowadays wants quality and is now prepared to pay a little extra for that but it also has to be marketed properly and not everyone can do that on their own."