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Created eleven years ago, the Slow Food Awards winners are nominated by the public. Each winner is a champion of good, clean and fair food and represents the very best of their craft.

In addition to the public vote, each national director chooses their Person of the Year, someone who embodies Slow Food values.

UK Winner indicates overall winner for the UK in addition to the nation award.

Retailer of the Year                                     Locavore, Glasgow
Producer of the Year                                   Uradale Farm, Shetland
Cook of the Year  UK WINNER                 Neil Forbes, Cafe St Honore, Edinburgh 
Newcomer (under two years)  Award      Gelatessa,  Glasgow               
Environment & Biodiversity Award         Dear Green, Glasgow           
Food Product of the Year                           Freedom Bakery Wholemeal Loaf, Glasgow
Drink Product of the Year                          Dookit Afresh, Glasgow 

 

People of the Year: Tommy and Mary Isbister (Pictured above. Image (c) W Barrie)

Tommy & Mary live on Burland Croft, Trondra, Shetland, where, over the decades, they have rescued, nurtured, conserved and generally prevented the extinction of many native Shetland breeds (all on Ark of Taste).
  • Shetland ducks
  • Papa Stour Shetland Hen
  • Tappit Shetland Hen
  • Shetland geese
  • Shetland Kye
  • Shetland sheep
  • Shetland kale
  • Shetland bere
  • Shetland Black tatties
Their dedication to the Shetland birds is particularly interesting and valuable as no one else has achieved or preserved so much. The hens especially are under real threat, and without Tommy & Mary they would be long gone. Thanks to good detective work, The Isbisters managed to save the last of these birds – so many had been cross-bred with others and cross-breeding is still a huge problem. The Isbister birds are pure bred genebank landrace breeds.
 
The Isbisters are truly unsung heroes of Shetland’s heritage, demonstrated on their own farm and knowledge-sharing with local schools over many years, creating availability (albeit on a relatively small scale) of Shetland beef, mutton and eggs, all thanks to Tommy and Mary’s diligent preservation work.

Nominated by Walter Mowat, Director Slow Food Scotland