Willingness to supply Whyte & Mackay with wheat

Scottish growers have met with representatives of distilling giant Whyte & Mackay to look at the potential for sales of wheat into its Invergordon distillery.

Local MSP, Rob Gibson, accompanied the farmers on their visit to Invergordon.  The plant is currently using maize to produce its raw spirit, but has previously used wheat, some of which was grown on local farms.

The NFUS delegation included local grower Jim Whiteford, Shandwick Mains, Tain, who is also a member of the Union’s Combinable Crops Committee.  Speaking after the visit, Mr Whiteford said:

"This was a very useful meeting at which we got an insight into the workings of the plant and just what it would take for local growers to be able to supply wheat into the plant again.

"For that to happen, the quality and specification of the wheat would need to meet certain targets.  We will examine HGCA data to identify if there are existing or new varieties of wheat that could meet the 1000-grain weight or spirit yields that the distiller would require.

"We will keep an open dialogue with Whyte & Mackay and if there is an opportunity to get wheat back into the plant, we have growers who would be keen to supply that market."

Local MSP, Rob Gibson added:

“I am pleased that a constructive meeting took place between local cereal farmers and the manager of Invergordon Distillery. It allowed both parties to share vital information about suitable wheat seed and the distillation process and to seek a mutually supportive way ahead.”

Plant manager at Invergordon, Ian Mackie said:

“It was a positive first meeting and we are fully committed to keeping dialogue open between ourselves and the local farmers so we can continue to look into ways of working together in the future.”

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006