A DELICIOUS selection of fresh Scottish produce from across the country will be presented at NFU Scotland’s Annual Dinner, taking place tonight at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow.

The fantastic menu starts off with a trio of haggis, black pudding and pork cheek, served as crispy bon bons and mini croquettes.

The centrepiece of the meal is a Scottish ‘Thursday Roast’ with all the trimmings. Slices of Scotch Sirloin of Beef will be served with a duo of roast and mashed potato, petite cauliflower cheese, glazed carrots, topped with a crispy Yorkshire pudding and rich beef gravy.

The meal finishes with a real sweet treat with a dessert of white chocolate and Scottish raspberry bread and butter pudding. This is served with a meringue top, lemon curd ripple ice cream and Gordon’s gin-soaked fruit.

Guests will be treated to one last culinary delight after the meal and later in the evening as they speak to old friends and make new acquaintances when melted Scottish cheese on artisanal toasted bread will be served for supper (that translates as 'cheese on toast '.)

Scotbeef and Marks and Spencer are the headline sponsors of the whole Conference, Annual Dinner and AGM. Both companies have been strong supporters of Scottish farmers and crofters.

Scotbeef, run by the Galloway family, has been prominent in helping to develop Scotland’s red meat industry. The business traces its roots back over a hundred years when it was founded by James W Galloway and remains in family ownership today under the direction of Robbie Galloway CEO. Scotbeef is passionate about producing the highest quality meat products for the UK retail market.

The dinner itself is being supplied by a range of Scottish producers along with Scotbeef including Woody’s Ice Cream, Caldwell’s Veg, Scottish Chillies, Albert Bartlett, Speyfruit, Robertson’s Fine Foods, Kettle Produce, Benzies, Aldi, Farmlay, First Milk, W and J Colquhoun of Rossbank and Diageo.

Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol with an impressive collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine, is the event’s pre-dinner drinks reception sponsor once again, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Diageo’s Jonnie Walker Black Label with two special cocktails to mark the occasion; a Jonnie Walker Peach Highball and a Jonnie Walker Lemon Highball.

NFU Scotland chief executive Scott Walker commented: “Scotland’s farmers and crofters produce some of the highest quality food and drink in the world and our Annual Dinner is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase this.

“Scottish produce is second to none in terms of production and taste, which is why we here at NFU Scotland could not be prouder to work with farms and crofts across Scotland to produce our Annual Dinner. The people of Scotland have a fantastic larder on their doorstep. Whether you are buying food in Scotland, in the rest of the UK or anywhere in the world if you buy Scottish produce you know it will be great and its sustainably produced.

“A special thanks must go to Scotbeef and Marks and Spencer for sponsoring the entire Conference, Annual Dinner and AGM, as well as their continued support of Scottish agriculture.

“Every year the meal at our Annual Dinner is exceptional, and this year will be no different. I wish everyone whether a member of NFU Scotland or a supporter of great food were able to tastes and enjoy the produce we have brought together from across Scotland.

“Scottish farmers and crofters work tirelessly to produce great quality food and drink for disgracefully little financial benefit. Scottish agriculture is the cornerstone of Scotland’s thriving food and drink sector and it is important that farmers and crofters are appreciated for their role.

“We have an ambition to double the size of the food and drink industry in Scotland to £30 billion by 2030. In doing this we hope to achieve fair supply chains that will secure a sustainable and profitable future for all those involved.”