Rural Developments - Local food project goes from strength to strength

To help increase opportunities for the many food and drink producers in the area Northern Marches Cymru – the delivery body for regeneration programmes in rural Wrexham – has launched a project called Local Food First Wrexham using funding provided through Axis 4 of the Rural Development Plan.

The project has been behind a number of initiatives aimed at helping producers and spreading the word about the abundance of mouth-watering food and drink now originating from the county. These have included school cookery competitions, a ‘Taste of Wrexham’ gala dinner, publication of the popular Wrexham Food Directory (now in its second edition) and organising the North East Wales Food Conference 2012 in  association with Cadwyn Clwyd.

Perhaps most successful of all is the ‘Producers Forum’ which meets on the first Wednesday of every month. This gives local producers the opportunity to meet face-to-face, swap ideas, keep up to date with project developments and listen to guest speakers. The Forum has also resulted in producers working together to reduce costs and become more efficient, for instance by receiving joint deliveries, buying ingredients in bulk and even sharing premises.

“Wrexham is a wonderfully rich and diverse area when it comes to food produce,”

says Caroline Dawson, Community Development Project Officer Local Food with Northern Marches Cymru.

 “Local Food First Wrexham is all about promoting the area as a food destination, dispelling some of those industrial myths that have always been associated with a county which is actually 94 per cent rural. It’s a project that we’re immensely proud of, one that goes from strength to strength as producers from every corner of the county get involved.”

Local Food First Wrexham has funding available to help launch products, access new markets, develop co-operation initiatives or assist with marketing, promotion and events. For further information contact Caroline Dawson on 01978 298384 or e-mail caroline.dawson@wrexham.gov.uk .