Shetland mussels and Shetland lamb have long been considered a mark of quality, with shipments regularly leaving here, destined for the kitchens of some of London’s finest restaurants. For a long time, with the focus solely on export, both residents and visitors to the isles have missed out on enjoying local produce in Shetland itself.
However, an appetite for food provenance and lower food miles, coupled with a vulnerability exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, has speeded up the desire among some to make the islands more self-sufficient and ensure a decent amount of produce remains on the islands for all to enjoy.
And so, A of Taste Shetland – an offshoot of member organisation Shetland Food and Drink, which promotes Shetland’s produce to the world – is on a mission to encourage both residents of and visitors to the isles to eat local. And it’s about time.
The Shetland Islands, an archipelago that lies between the Orkneyinhabited islands, from Unst in the far north to Fair Isle in the south.
