NFU Scotland are delighted to announce that Lady Claire Macdonald has come on board to design and consult on the menu for the NFUS AGM in St Andrews, to be held in February of next year.

Each year, the AGM presents an opportunity for an individual region to showcase the diversity and quality of produce they have on their doorstep, and Highland Region are pleased to have Lady Claire Macdonald on their top team for the 2012 event.

Lady Claire runs the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge restaurant and hotel on Skye, alongside her husband and family.  She is a real champion for the industry; promoting Scottish produce in her regular food columns in newspapers, being patron of both the Scottish Food Fortnight and the Scottish Association of Farmers’ Markets, and regularly performing cooking demonstrations to packed audiences across the country.

Lady Claire was this year’s recipient of the NFU Scotland Ambassador Award, established by the Union in 2009 to recognise those individuals who, through their own efforts, have played an influential role in communicating the work, challenges and the value of Scottish food and farming to a wider audience. Lady Claire collected the award in front of 500 guests attending the Union’s 2011 annual dinner.

Lady Claire Macdonald said:

“I'm delighted and honoured to be involved with this exciting project. NFU Scotland is a superb pro-active organisation promoting the very best of Scotland’s produce, which I wholeheartedly support. 

“We are looking forward to the challenge of creating the most memorable AGM next February; showcasing the almost unlimited range of ingredients we have available to play with in the Highlands.”

Hugh Fraser, Chairman of the Highland Region said:

“When we decided to take on the challenge of being the next region to host the NFUS AGM we really wanted a high profile name to help us showcase the region.  Lady Claire Macdonald has been a champion of the region’s food and drink for a long time and we’re absolutely thrilled that she has come on board to help us make the most of the Highland Regions produce.

“From the word go Lady Claire has been very enthusiastic about our options and we feel certain that with her guidance we’ll come up with a fabulous menu. We’re spoiled for choice up here in the Highlands with an incredible diversity of food products available to us – everything from hill sheep to organic vegetables. Our biggest problem looks at though it will be choosing which to feature on the menu. 

“Lady Claire is known for the high quality Scottish produce that appears on her menus and we believe she is the ideal choice to help us make the produce of the Highland Region really shine. We look forward to working closely with her in the run up to the AGM.”

Notes to Editors

• The NFU Scotland AGM will take place in St Andrews on 13-14 February 2012.
• For pictures of Lady Claire Macdonald receiving the 2011 NFU Scotland Ambassador Award please contact wendy.fleming@nfus.org.uk

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Contact Wendy Fleming on 0131 472 4020