We all know just how good our food and drink is here in Wales. We have some of the finest products and produce anywhere in the world, and we’re also very good at letting others know just how good it is. Now visitors, and locals alike, can get to taste some Welsh food & drink and find out more about our amazing Welsh cuisine
Today sees the return of Wales’ largest international food and drink event, BLAS CYMRU / TASTEWALES, bringing together producers, buyers, and food industry professionals to showcase world-class produce and help open new markets and trade relationships.
The signature event is one of the first in the Welsh industry calendar to safely welcome back attendees and see buyers heading to the International Convention Centre Wales (ICCW), Newport to learn about the latest developments being made in the Welsh food industry.
We spent the morning at the event, meeting producers, sampling some amazing Welsh food and drink and talking to the Minister of Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, LESLEY GRIFFITHS, who also opened Taste Wales.
She was delighted to be at this important showcase for all that is great about Welsh food and drink, and understandably relieved that we are able to enjoy events like this again, after such a long period of enforced lockdown.
Here’s a look at day one of BLAS CYMRU / TASTEWALES.
One of the main draws of TasteWales is the conference, titled ‘Food and Drink for Future Generations’. Prominent sustainability and climate change writers and experts will aim to inspire delegates to take action in their organisations and their lives to address the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.
Headlining the conference programme is one of the UK’s best-known farmers and TV presenters, ADAM HENSON.
Adam has been on our screens for 20 years now from the time he started with the BBC’s Countryfile, after it ran a presenter search. Since this time he has worked on programmes such as Countryfile Summer Diaries and Inside Out. Due to his extensive farming knowledge, he’s also worked on Radio 4’s On Your Farm and Farming Today, and co-presented Lambing Live with Kate Humble.
We think it’s fair to say that farming is his real passion. He runs the Cotswold Farm Park which his father started, which attracts over 70,000 visitors per annum. As well as the thousands who come to see the place, the day-to-running is a full time job.
The 1,600-acre estate, grows wheat, spring barley and oilseed rape, alongside a flock of 350 commercial ewes and numerous rare breeds of farm animals.
Welsh Government Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths told us…..
“BlasCymru presents a great opportunity for Welsh businesses to showcase the very best food and drink products made right here in Wales. I am pleased Adam Henson will be headlining the conference programme and I am sure his knowledge and passion will inspire those attending.”
Key themes at this year’s conference include ‘how Wales is addressing the sustainability challenge’ and ‘making food manufacturing more sustainable’.
MIKE BERNERS-LEE, the expert on sustainability and carbon foot printing and author of books such as; There is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years; and How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything; will be addressing these themes.
As well as the conference there will be a chance to network and meet industry professionals at special zones including Innovation, Skills and Business, Cluster Network, Tourism, International, Sustainability, Investor, Innovation and Manufacturing.
The two-day event, sponsored by one of the largest names in the UK food and drink industry Princes Limited, will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICCW) today 27th & Tomorrow 28th October. We’ll be there to bring you a slice of what is going on during the event.
You can find out more about the event HERE.
