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Chamber and committees

Celebrating Angus Berries and Scotland’s Soft Fruit Sector

  • Submitted by: Lloyd Melville, Angus South, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2026
  • Motion type: Members' Business Motion
  • Motion reference: S7M-00788
  • Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support

That the Parliament celebrates Scotland’s soft fruit sector and its important contribution to the rural economy, food and drink industry and the country’s reputation for high-quality produce; recognises Angus as one of Scotland’s leading berry-growing areas and applauds the growers, seasonal workers, packers, processors and retailers who bring Scottish strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries to consumers; notes that almost 2,000 hectares of land in Scotland are devoted to soft fruit production, including around 1,000 hectares for strawberries; welcomes the contribution of Angus Growers, the Arbroath-based grower-owned producer organisation, and its members; commends the family-run Balhungie Berry Farm, near Monifieth, which Lloyd Melville MSP recently visited, for growing and selling fresh local berries and connecting people with Angus agriculture; welcomes initiatives such as the Angus Berry Trail, which link berry production with farm shops, hospitality and tourism; acknowledges what it sees as the challenges facing growers, including rising costs, unpredictable weather and access to seasonal labour; notes the belief that more should be done to promote the quality, provenance and nutritional benefits of Scottish berries; further notes the calls for governments, tourism bodies, retailers and public sector caterers to work with growers to promote Scottish berries at home and abroad, including through greater use of seasonal berries in public sector menus, and wishes everyone involved in Scotland’s berry sector continued success.