Ex-Head Chef Leads Food Commission

The former head chef of a now Michelin starred restaurant is to lead a body which aims to improve Scottish food.

Shirley Spear, founder, co-owner and former head chef of The Three Chimneys on Skye has been named as chairwoman of the Scottish Food Commission.

The body, which meets for the first time next month, aims to help guide Scotland towards becoming a Good Food Nation'', and improve the country's attitude to eating fresh and healthy produce.

The other members on the 16-strong commission are industry experts from various areas, including environment, retail, seafood, public health, education and the food industry.

The commission's vice-chairwoman will be Julie Fitzpatrick, who is currently the head of food security in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow.

Food and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: I am looking forward to the first meeting of the Food Commission on March 18 when we will discuss the next steps in Scotland becoming a Good Food Nation. By 2025 we want people from every walk of life to take pride and pleasure in the food served day by day in Scotland.

Scotland is fast becoming one of the world's leading food and drink nations. We have come a long way in terms of reputation and success in a few short years but with the help of the Food Commission we can do even better.

It's my belief that an increase in Scottish food exports will attract more overseas visitors and the quality of the food we serve will become one of the key reasons to travel to Scotland.

I want the food industry to become a thriving, well-known feature of local and national economies, with each part of Scotland rightly proud of its culinary heritage, past and present.

My vision is for Scotland to become a nation where it is second nature to serve, sell and eat fresh, healthy and sustainable food and, through the advice and guidance of the Food Commission, I hope to see us making that a reality.''

The commission will provide advice to Scottish ministers on measures which will contribute the most to making Scotland a Good Food Nation.

It will address the existing and potential future challenges facing Scotland's food culture, and will also advocate the importance of good food to Scotland's health and wellbeing, environment and quality of life.

Members of the commission have been asked to participate as individuals rather than as either representatives of their parent organisations or associated with a particular position.

Shirley Spear said: I am very honoured to have been invited by Richard Lochhead to take up the role of Chair of the new Scottish Food Commission to help build Scotland as a Good Food Nation.

There is an incredibly important job to be done and I am going to take a huge amount of responsibility and personal pride in helping to set goals and achieve improvements over the next few years, together with my colleagues representing many walks of life.

The work of the commission will not be confined to those of us who sit around the table, but also involve close relationships with a wide number of food champions hard at work within their own communities. I believe that this new and collaborative approach is exciting, but also significant.''