DAIRY PUTS FRUITY TREAT ON THE MENU NEW FLAVOUR OF ICE-CREAM ON OFFER

A NEW ice-cream flavour by family-firm Mitchells was among the products launched at the event.

Visitors to the Thainstone Centre were the first to sample the Inverurie dairy’s newest flavour – blueberries and cream.

Stalls displayed a range of wares from the old family favourites to innovative products finding their footing in the north-east market.

The Mitchells family firm teamed up with Fourdon-based growers Castleton Fruit Farm to create the new fruity flavour.

General manager Keith Whyte said the food festival gets busier every year. He added: “It’s an ideal way to say this is what we are doing, have a try. Most people here have a genuine interest in food and where it’s coming from. I like to think they are helping farmers, growers and producers in this area.”

Mitchells have manned a stall at the food festival since its inaugural year. For others it was the first time they had tackled the throngs of potential customers at the Thainstone Centre.

The home baking and preserves of Kincardine Kitchen were on display for the first time. Nicky Bradford, owner of the Kincardine O’Neil-based firm, said: “It’s a fantastic event. A good learning curve about setting up the stall and making it look good.”

Christine Carter, of award-winning Dean’s of Huntly, said stocks of the popular shortbread were nearly sold out halfway into the day and emergency trips were being made to fetch more.

Local businesses invited to display their wares were not limited to food produce alone. A small stall manned by the Gamrie Goat company sold soap produced from goats’ milk.

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