Forth Valley Food Festival: Businesses benefit as thousands take part in fortnight-long event

Forth Valley Food Festival took place during the October school break and showcased a range of eateries, organisations and attractions with a daily programme of online and socially distant events.

From foodie podcasts with Forth Environment Link and pumpkin picking at Arnprior Farm, to online kitchen medicine workshops with Trossachs Wild Apothecary and family-friendly cook-alongs, there was something for everyone to sink their teeth into.

More than 2300 social media users tuned into two cook-alongs broadcast live on Facebook from Bannockburn House, led by head gardener Kate White and chef Sara MacMillan from the Kitchen at 44 King Street.

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Festival coordinator Carolyn McGill, of the Forth Valley Food and Drink network, said: “Our local food and drink businesses need our support now more than ever and the festival is one of the ways we’re encouraging people to shop local.

“Despite the restrictions this year, local families were still able to enjoy a host of festival activities from finding the perfect pumpkin from the 10,000 on offer at Arnprior Farm and meeting the goats at Achray Farm, to Camphill Blair Drummond Bakery’s fantastic rainbow bread-making session and a novel naan bread-making workshop by Turnip the Beet.

“Fallen Tree Coffee also gave us their insight into local roasters and with the pubs closed, we even managed to organise a virtual food and drink-themed pub quiz at the Forth Inn in Aberfoyle.”

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