Scotland’s biggest two-day agricultural event, Turriff Show, is investing £70,000 in a new food and drink pavilion and extended arts, crafts and entertainment area for 2019.

In its 155th year, the show – on August 4 and 5 – is expanding its food and drink offering with more than 40 stalls featuring some of the best produce from growers and makers throughout Aberdeenshire and beyond. Exhibitors include artisan yogurt makers, Rora Dairy; home-grown meat producer and farmer, Louise’s Farm Kitchen; and The Teasmith, Scotland’s first gin makers to distil with hand-picked tea.

President of the show and local potato farmer, Graeme Mackie, said: “Turriff has a strong history of being one of the most prestigious agricultural shows in Scotland and it has evolved over the years to become a celebration of food, farming and the rural environment with 23,000 visitors.

"Feedback from last year’s event illustrated how important food and drink was to visitors, so we have invested this year in a mix of stalls and demonstrations dedicated to this.

“It is a perfect opportunity to showcase the excellent businesses in the area that create farm-to-fork products and services including local fruit and vegetables, farm meat, veg box schemes, farm shops, farmers’ markets and artisan bakers.”

The investment into the new food and drink, and surrounding area has received support from organisations including Opportunity North-east, Aberdeenshire Council and Connect Local Regional Food Fund. “Supporting the food and drink pavilion at the show is aligned to Opportunity North-east’s ambition to bring local food and drink businesses to wider national and international market opportunities, tell the story of the region’s sustainable production systems and develop food and drink experiences for the growing tourism opportunity which showcase authenticity and provenance,” said Peter Cook, from the organisation.

The enhanced food and drink focus has been driven and co-ordinated by local farmer, Sarah Mackie, a well-known food professional, with a background with Tesco, Brakes and other leading food companies.

The show has 1555 livestock classes, which this year includes the 2019 National Blue du Maine Sheep Show, 300 trade stands and up to £88,000 in prize money.