FARMING COUPLE’S RAPESEED OIL SLIDES TO SUCCESS AT TASTE OF GRAMPIAN

The Aberdeenshire makers of rapeseed oil who won the small stall competition at the Taste of Grampian were so busy on the day that one of them had to return home to bottle more for the crowds.

John and Connie Sorrie, who started making Ola just over a year ago, said it had been an "amazing" day.

Mr Sorrie had to return to Westfield Farms outside Inverurie to make up extra chilli and lemon-infused brews and the pair almost sold out of their standard Ola Rapeseed Oil as well.

Mr Sorrie said: "It has been a great day, very busy. Our first show was the Taste of Grampian last year soit is a nice birthday for us really. We are delighted to win the award."

He said that they had seen a gap in the market for manufacturing the rapeseed oil, healthier than olive oil and with 10 times the omega 3 content, and started it as a way of diversifying at the arable farm. The oil is produced entirely on site and can be traced to the field from which it comes.

Phil Vickery, who was judging, said they were among the newest and most innovative people there. "It has been a great year for them and it is a wonderful product," he added.

He later used it in his cooking duel with Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The Fish Plaice, of Fraserburgh, won the large stall competition and sold almost an entire trailer-load of fish. Alison Pearson, who set up the business in Hanover Street with her sister-in-law, Brenda Jack, said it had been a very busy day. Her brother, Martin Jack, sources most of the fish.

Mrs Pearson said: "This has been a fantastic day for us. It has been very busy. It is our third year and it is a really nice day for us. It definitely makes a big difference in spreading the word about us. We are so pleased to win the award. It is just amazing and it is great to get a bit of recognition for the hard work that goes into preparing for the show."

She said crabs and lobsters were among the most popular produce at the stall.

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