Venison ‘first’ for Pitlochry

Credit: Fair Feast

Farmer’s scheme tackles food poverty

Pitlochry is to benefit further from a unique venison butchery scheme which has already seen 20 000 meals distributed to families in food poverty.

The Highland Perthshire town will welcome ‘the world’s first social enterprise butchery shop’ – the next step on a remarkable journey for farmer and social entrepreneur, Helen Stewart.

When Helen took over the running of her family’s 400 year old Knockbarry Farm near Pitlochry a few years ago, she realised that an over-proliferation of deer were causing agricultural damage and reducing the food available for their sheep.

That is when she approached the Cairngorms National Park Authority and received grant funding for a £100 000 ‘super-larder’ and processing facility through the Cairngorms 2030 project, which enabled the Knockbarry team to process and distribute venison locally.

Food Bank founder Angela Hanvey (L) with Fair Feast founder Helen Stewart - Credit Fair Feast

‘Next step’

Assisted by UnLtd -the foundation for social entrepreneurs -Helen’s ‘Fair Feast’ company has distributed two tonnes of venison to partner food banks and community larders across Highland Perthshire.

The opening of the shop on Pitlochry’s Atholl Road is the next step, helping to ensure a consistent year-round supply of the protein-rich meat for local causes.

Reducing the number of deer, whilst using surplus meat produced to help people in food poverty, will also assist habitat recovery on the 5000-acre farm and the surrounding environment.

“Food banks are at an all-time high for demand. Sometimes we are dropping off 100 packs of venison, and it feels like a drop in the ocean,” said Helen.

“But when we have food surpluses and people who are hungry, it really becomes a matter of redistribution.

“If we can donate tens of thousands of meals from just one farm, imagine what could happen if that was rolled out across Scotland.”

Butcher Kevin Lawson, who has been a vital part of the Fair Feast project - Credit Fair Feast

Sales sustain employment

In order to improve access to game meat, Fair Feast processes venison into products such as sausages, mince, burgers and meatballs.

As well as gifting extra venison to causes, Helen sells to local restaurants; income which helps to employ a butcher and deer manager.

To open the shop, Fair Feast has been given financial and practical support by UnLtd, which has helped thousands of social enterprises since forming in 2002.

Helen Stewart

Credit: Fair Feast