'FOOD REVOLUTION' HEADED FOR THE BLACK ISLE

10 November 2010

‘THEY developed a simple concept and it started a revolution.’

So the Scotsman described Mike and Karen Small, who developed the Fife Diet. This radical but simple idea sparked Scotland’s modern local food movement, and earning its founders accolades galore.

Now Mike Small has been unveiled as the guest speaker at Transition Black Isle’s festive food event Our Local Larder at the Victoria Hall in Cromarty from 11.30am on Saturday 11 December.  Mike's talk will begin at 12:15pm.

As well as the talk and questions and answers session, the event will feature a range of local producers showcasing fabulous fare from the Black Isle, and a delicious lunch.

The Fife Diet was the inspiration behind Transition Black Isle’s campaign The Highland Food Challenge, which is now seeking fresh recruits.

Mike will speak on: 'The Crisis in the Globalised Food System - and the Alternative Local Food Movement in Scotland.'

“Between October 2007 and October 2008 the Fife Diet asked people to sign-up to eating food from the region of Fife for a year, monitor their progress and share their experience,” he said.

“The project has developed from a voluntary network into a funded body and in its development has changed from a small amount of people dedicated to eating ‘from Fife’ for a year, to a much larger network of people trying to re-localise more generally and to explore what sustainable food might be.”

The award-winning project is said to be the fastest growing local food project in the UK.

Scotland’s Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: “The beauty of the initiative is it taps into the growing awareness of consumers in the provenance of what they buy – they want to know where their food comes from and supports local business at the same time.”
 

Mike Small is director of the Fife Diet, teaches eco-philosophy at Turin University and has been programme director of the Big Tent Festival, Scotlands largest eco festival for the past three years.

Transiton Black Isle convener Wendy Price said: “Mike Small has been an inspiration to people throughout Scotland and beyond and we are delighted to bring a speaker of such calibre to the Black Isle.

“As well as the talk there will be a great festive atmosphere in the Victoria Hall, with local producers, a delicious lunch and of course a chance to ask questions and enjoy a blether.”