Forth Valley Food Links

Gargunnock now has a new andexciting youth enterprise that is bringing top quality local food to the village, thanks to its founder and CEO, 12 year-old Callum Farquhar. 

Callum, who lives in the village and attends Balfron High School, has started the new enterprise, Gourmet Gargunnock, to bring together local producers and consumers by taking stalls at village events and the unique One Carrot Gold Club™ home delivery service. Free recipes are even provided to the members featuring the products they bought.  

Forth Environment Link was delighted to hear from Callum's mum Debbie, a long-standing friend of Forth Valley Food Links, who spoke enthusiastically about Callum's new enterprise.

The idea arose from Callum and his family's knowledge of the village, that a number of people were growing and making high quality food, and that some of it was surplus.   They also knew some very good cooks, and that local people did think about what they ate, where their food came from, and how they buy their food. From this knowledge, Gourmet Gargunnock was established.

There are a number of ingredients that makes Gourmet Gargunnock special.  For a start, there's the fresh local produce - all of Gourmet Gargunnock’s produce is grown, made and sold locally by people known and respected in the village.

The produce is top quality, always made or grown to the highest of quality standards available.

It has a low carbon footprint, trying its best to do its bit for the environment. When deliveries are made, they are all by bike and trailer. All packaging is recyclable.

All suppliers are paid fairly at a decent rate - keeping trade fair - and are treated well throughout their time working in partnership with Gourmet Gargunnock. Gourmet Gargunnock is happy to discuss profit-sharing to ensure fair trading and to support local charities.

There is value for money, as the aim is always to keep prices fair, even regularly checking other supplies of deli-quality products sold by Gourmet Gargunnock's competitors.

Purchases of Gourmet Gargunnock produce will support an ambitious young first-time entrepreneur and helping him build his first enterprise.

One of the suppliers to Gourmet Gargunnock is Featured Producer Willie Campbell, the head gardener at Gargunnock House. In the Victorian walled garden, Willie grows a wide range of fruit, vegetables and herbs to the very highest standards. Willie’s produce is used in Gourmet Gargunnock jams and preserves, and he offers fresh produce during the summer and autumn.

The range of produce offered by Gourmet Gargunnock is jams and chutneys, eggs, herbs, fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery products, and flavoured oils. 

More producers and customers are always welcome. Contact Callum to find out more: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(Source: Callum and Debbie Farquhar, 27 August 2010)