{{Short description|Village in Fife, Scotland}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox UK place | type = Village | official_name = Balmalcolm | country = Scotland | post_town = CUPAR | postcode_district = KY15 | unitary_scotland = Fife | lieutenancy_scotland = Fife | constituency_westminster = North East Fife | constituency_scottish_parliament = North East Fife | coordinates = {{coord|56.2622|N|3.101|W|}} | os_grid_reference = NO 319 083 | edinburgh_distance_mi = 22 | postcode_area = KY }}

'''Balmalcolm''' is a small village in the Kettle parish of Fife, Scotland. Encompassed by the low-lying Howe of Fife, the village is roughly {{convert|5+1/2|mi|km|round=0.5}} southwest of Cupar, the nearest town, and around {{convert|22|mi|km|abbr=off}} north of Edinburgh.

== History == The village first appeared on maps in the mid-eighteenth century and its naming was likely inspired by the name Ballingall, the name of the family which once owned the land on which it lies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fife Place-name Data :: Balmalcolm|url=https://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=1249|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Fife place-name database from Glasgow University}}</ref>

Balmalcolm was the centre of some controversy in the late 1990s when a high level of nitrates were found in the local borehole, which was attributed to the intensive farming of the local area with green vegetables. The area was the first part of Scotland to be designated a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, and nine farms were required to follow an action programme in regards to their nitrate usage as a result.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Buie|first=Elizabeth|date=27 January 1996|title=Nine farms in fife nitrate vulnerable|work=The Herald (Glasgow)|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12050564.nine-farms-in-fife-nitrate-vulnerable/|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>{{coord|56.2622|-3.101|display=title}}

== Economy == Surrounded by farms, vegetable packing business Kettle Produce chose Balmalcolm Farm as its headquarters and was founded by two farming families in 1985 after a partnership dating back to 1976.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Argo |first1=Andrew |title=Kettle Produce harvests more success in 40th anniversary year |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business/business-news/364520/kettle-produce-harvests-success-40th-anniversary-year/ |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Dundee Courier |date=8 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Learn About Our 40 Year Journey {{!}} Our History {{!}} Kettle Produce|url=https://www.kettle.co.uk/about-us/history|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref> The Balmalcolm facility is {{Convert|11,500|m2|km2}} and employs 1,000 staff from the local area, however the company have since expanded to the rest of the UK and into mainland Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} We're Passionate About Our Food {{!}} Kettle Produce|url=https://www.kettle.co.uk/about-us|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>

Farm shop, cafe, and children's play experience Muddy Boots was a popular local attraction in Balmalcolm. Set on a farm owned by the same family for three generations, the business had its roots in the 1950s, expanded substantially since then, but folded in 2022. The site now houses a beer brewery and tap room, a cafe and a sauna.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Balmalcolm}} *[https://www.kettlecommunitycouncil.org.uk/ Kettle Community Council website] *[http://www.smartcommunityfife.org.uk/kettle-district/ Kettle & District community website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523234836/http://www.smartcommunityfife.org.uk/kettle-district/ |date=23 May 2009 }}

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Category:Villages in Fife

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