EAST Lothian producers have launched their own website for customers to 'shop local' all in one place.

The Haddington Food Assembly offers people the chance to buy food, drink and local products from East Lothian online and then collect their order once a week in Haddington.

Based on a popular way of buying locally, used in France, the Haddington Food Assembly is the brainchild of Cockenzie beekeeper Bryden McKinnie, who runs Jacobite Apiaries.

And it was officially launched at the Maitlandfield House Hotel, in the town, on Monday, with a dozen local producers setting up tasting stalls to promote their goods.

Bryden said: “The idea came about because I was trying to create a box of East Lothian produce to send to a friend.

“I thought it would be straightforward, but it turned out to be a lot harder than I expected.

“It made me think of finding a way to bring the producers together and when I began talking to them about the assembly idea, they were keen to get involved.

“The average distance travelled is seven miles for local produce, compared to 600 miles for supermarkets.”

The assembly runs a weekly order system so people can go on its website and order products from a variety of places and then collect their entire order on Monday evenings at the Maitlandfield House Hotel.

Among producers showcasing at the launch were Knowes Farm Shop, East Lothian Organics, The Spice Witch, Kentwood Brewery, Black and Gold rapeseed oil and Laura Thomas.

Everything from bread to beer, wool, candles and dairy is available through the assembly.

Iain Gray, who was returned as East Lothian’s MSP at the Holyrood elections last week, officially opened the assembly and confessed to 200 guests he was relieved to be back as the county’s representative.

Mr Gray joked: “I am delighted to be here. I did think I might have been here trying to sell the vegetables out of my back garden.”

The MSP said it was fitting that the East Lothian assembly was launched in Haddington, which has strong links with France, being twinned with Aubigny.

He said: “It began in France and there are about 800 assemblies there now, so it appropriate to launch it in Haddington.

“Sometimes it is hard to get a hold of local produce because it is not in the supermarket.”

The Food Assembly says that 92p out of every pound spent with them stays within the local economy, with more than 80p going directly to local producers.

To learn more, log on to foodassembly.com