It’s a community support agriculture action and system to connect consumers who have need of high quality food and countryside experience with small agri-producers who keep the traditional species and planting way. On one hand, it makes urban peoples in this community accessible to have food with high quality and special tastes by a reasonable price. And they also could have fantastic experiences of countryside life if they like; on the other hand, with these stable consumers, the individual farmers could have some income and keep their traditional agriculture, which has long term meaning for protection of species diversity.

(Source: Emmy Larsson & Julia Schaeper, 2005)

Local Food Van Link, in association with other groups, helps increase local food production by distributing produce around the local community. Skye and Lochalsh Food Link is a voluntary association of local producers, caterers, retailers and consumers with an interest in promoting fresh, locally produced food. A shared van links the network and distributes local produce all over the island. The group was initiated in April 2000 by a couple of local producers who decided that rather than delivering every product themselves, they would use a van to drive a set route twice a week, picking up the orders from the producer and delivering them to their customers. By doing so, not only could they save on petrol but also ensure the delivery of local produce all over the island, creating a more sustainable community. The solution both ensures the future of local food producers by distributing their goods, and promotes important aspects of economic and environmental community life and the health benefits of locally grown fresh produce. 

Within the last five years the food link has vastly increased the amount of local produce staying within Skye and Lochalch from £8,500 to over £60,000. The van group comprises approximately 15 producers and 40 customers spread all over the island. The funding it received in 2003, allowed the group to buy a larger van which enabled them to deliver even more produce and help the van to become self-sufficient. At present, the van runs on Tuesday and Friday, normally between March and October. The customers pay the price of the produce they order, and a 10% levy is paid by the producer to the company. This money is used for petrol, van maintenance and pays the wages of the van driver and the marketing co-ordinator.