Crofting Training

Setting up a Local Food Business

for Small Producers

You raise livestock, hens, or grow your own vegetables and fruit.

Now you are wondering if there is a way to sell your produce and develop your own local business. Perhaps you have been selling a wee bit locally and are thinking of scaling up.

But where to start?

With Jo Hunt, of Knockfarrel Produce in Dingwall, and other inspiring croft-based food producers, our new training programme will take you step-by-step through the process of setting up a local food business using your own produce.

Based on years of experience, Jo et al will guide you through the practicalities, the potential pitfalls, the rules & regulations, how to make the figures add up, what support is available, selling and marketing!

The programme will be offered through a series of online evening workshops and eight two-day in-person courses in a variety of locations.

Training Funds

We are delighted that our in-person courses have now been badged for the Small Producers Practical Training Fund, the Next Generation Practical Training Fund and the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund.

If you are eligible for any of these funds, then your ticket cost will be covered. Additionally, with the Small Producers and Women in Agriculture funds, women and girls living on islands and in remote rural locations can claim additional costs for travel and accommodation to attend a course that isn’t local to them.

To find out more about the courses and how to apply for one of the training funds, go to our Ticket Tailor links below. You can also contact celia@crofting.org. 

In-Person Training Events

These two-day courses are being offered in a variety of locations. They include some class based sessions, as well as croft visits with inspiring croft-based food producers. Our training programme will take you step-by-step through the process of setting up a local food business using your croft produce.

Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th October 2026 – Strathpeffer

Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th October 2026 – Bonar Bridge

Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th November 2026 – Carloway

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th November 2026 – Fort William

Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th December 2026 – Dunvegan

Saturday 16th & Saturday 23rd January 2027 – Inverness

Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd March 2027 – Shetland

Online Workshops

Wednesday 16th September – How to set up a Local Food Hub – Food Lochaber

Wednesday 30th September – An Introduction to Selling Meat Boxes – Sally Crowe

Wednesday 14th October – Collective Routes to Market – Helen O’Keefe

Tuesday 3rd November – Dealing with VAT and other Scary Numbers!

Tuesday 17th November – What Funding is Available?