URGE and Saxa Vord Shortlisted

After producing 92 types of chemical-free fruit, herbs and vegetables on Unst we have proved that you can grow just about anything on the UK"s most northerly inhabited island! But from the outset we wanted to make sure that we produced the fresh produce that the restaurant actually needed so would confer in the spring and purpose grow for the menu. Other seasonal produce would be introduced as it became ready which meant a changing menu as well. We are also supplying produce to the local hotel, café, shop, gate sales and monthly Farmers' Markets. Our motto ' Changing your food miles into food inches' has become a true statement and certainly very pertinent as in the past customer's food had travelled as far as they had, possibly a lot further.

Our partnership with URGE goes beyond a normal supplier/customer relationship and we have made every effort to raise awareness with our guests. If they haven't tasted the produce in our restaurant we encourage them to visit the Farmer's market where they can buy it direct, or visit the site and speak with the volunteers who do such a marvellous job. As well as delivering the produce Sarah has spent time with Chefs discussing menus, and with the waiting staff telling them about the growing and harvesting processes so that they can pass the information on to guests. "Shell-on king prawns sauteed in garlic butter served with a mixed leaf Unst salad" might seem a simple addition to our menu, but this would never have been an option a few years ago.

One of the highlights this summer was providing the base for Simon King"s first ever Shetland Safari, where 24 guests had a visit of a lifetime to Shetland. In addition we hosted other wildlife tours including Shetland Nature, Island Holidays, photography groups and walking groups from home and abroad. We really believe that whilst these groups are attracted to Shetland because of the way it caters for their own particular activity (wildlife, photography, walking etc), it is the high quality meals using local produce like that supplied by URGE that can make their holiday truly memorable.