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Posts Tagged ‘Best Of Welsh & Borders producers’

Y Talbot, Tregaron, Ceredigion

24 May

People have been asking me for good news, well I’ve got some guys, good news for a change. I’m lucky to be invited to quite a few events across Wales, but unfortunately I’m limited in the number I can get to, in between food festivals and farmers’ markets. But when an invite came through to spend an Open Evening at Y Talbot, Tregaron, I simply had to put it in my diary and get myself there.

Well it was a delightful drive through a pretty part of Ceredigion to arrive at Tregaron and what a pleasant surprise Ian and I had when we parked outside Y Talbot, the transformation of this historic and characterful inn can I can only described as totally amazing. I guess it must have been four or five years since we last called into Y Talbot and to be quite honest I could not believe the amount of renovation work that has been undertaken. It’s totally transformed this lovely Grade 2 Listed building without losing, its charm, character and ambience. Partners Mick, Nia and chef Dafydd have done an unbelievable job in taking on such a Herculean task and doing such a brilliant job on it.

We were joined at this Open Evening by many of the craftsmen that had taken part in the renovation work, all local companies, it is heartening to see that we have such quality tradespeople that can not only do building work, but are so skilled, they can not only keep the character of this beautiful building, but improve it. All those craftsmen have done such amazing work, that they should be very, very proud of themselves.

Also invited were local food producers and I was pleased to see many of our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers amongst them. It was great to have the chance to catch up in such a wonderful, relaxing environment. Food is a very important part of Y Talbot. Head chef Daffyd Watkin is passionate about local food, which is why we had so many local producers in attendance. I’m impressed with Daffyd, who only serves freshly cooked food, always using the best local ingredients. Visitors have the choice of eating in the pub or in the restaurant and food is served all day. If it’s just a drink you require, then you’ll be spoilt in the choice of Welsh beers, I couldn’t fault the selection on offer, especially as many are our Best Of Welsh producers too! It was a beer drinkers Welsh heaven!

As you might have guessed, the bedrooms were also well up to par, stylish, comfortable with luxurious bathrooms that have been beautifully finished with top quality specifications throughout, including family and rooms for disabled guests.  All this and a Welsh breakfast, plus there’s a garden area for those lovely summer days and balmy evenings.

Y Talbot is a superb venue for event, celebrations, dinners, conferences and weddings. Whatever festivity you have coming up, you’d do well to check out Y Talbot first. They can cater for 40 people in the restaurant and 130 in the function room and are happy to cater for hot and cold buffets, lunches and dinners, all you have to do is tell them what you’re thinking of and let them do the rest.

Tregaron, steeped in history, is a brilliant base for exploring the rural delights of Ceredigion and the new-look Y Talbot is certainly establishing itself as the place to stay for walkers, cyclists, motor bikers, bird watchers etc. there is just so much to do whatever your interest and families are welcomed too.

Many of the staff are Welsh speakers, food suppliers are included in the menus and everyone I met was so friendly and helpful, even with my endless questions.

I think what really chuffed me to bits was not just the remarkable transformation of Y Talbot, but the attitude of Mick, Nia and Dafydd. How local food is vital to the success of Y Talbot and how this really helps so many of our local food producers  businesses and how the transformation and success of Y Talbot will help to grow their food suppliers companies. But it doesn’t stop there, as all staff are from the local area and that includes 3 trainee chefs as well.

Time prevents me from writing more about this delightful place, but can I suggest that when you have a free moment, visit www.ytalbot.com and find out a little more about them and I’m sure it will tempt you to call in if you are in the area, or take a brak for the weekend and taste Welshj food at its best and relax in delightful, friendly place.

 
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Royal Welsh Food Hall

21 May

As always, the RWAS Food Hall never fails to cause anger and upset amongst Welsh food producers. I’ve actually lost count of the number of producers that stopped me at Sunday’s Smallholder event, have emailed me or telephoned in to complain.

My reading of the situation is that a number of producers who have traded on a regular basis in the Food Hall at the RWAS, have now been told they can no longer attend. The initial excuse, or explanation that we have been given is the regular excuse that  Food Hall was oversubscribed and all applications cannot be accepted. Apparently all applicants were sent along with their application form, the scoring criteria, and it was the scoring criteria that was used so that decisions could be made. Follows is the Welsh Government’s official:

A Welsh Government spokesperson said,
“The Food Hall at the Royal Welsh Show is jointly run by the Welsh Government and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society with the application process for stand space being managed through event management company, Fernleigh.

Due to space limitations it was impossible to accommodate all applicants for stand space and a scoring criteria was used which included an emphasis on the use of Welsh produce. All applicants were made aware of this and a copy of the criteria was included in their application packs.

While we appreciate some applicants may be disappointed we remain committed to promoting the wealth of food producers we have in Wales and the quality of their produce.

Now dear readers, much as I want to, I’m not prepared to mention companies who this year have been unceremoniously ousted from the RWAS, but to say that some of these are well known Welsh companies, sums it up perfectly. Ian and I have now asked Fernleigh Design and wag food for a copy of the ‘criteria’ which seems to be the crunch item, but still waiting to receive it from either party.

So without that information I’d like to seriously take wag food and Fernleigh Design to task on their ‘emphasis on the use of Welsh products’. I’d like to know how many companies producing bakery goods can give assurance that they are using Welsh flour and Welsh butter? How many companies producing bara brith and Welsh cakes have found a supplier that grows raisins and sultanas in Wales? I thought wag food might have learnt a lesson from a company – now no longer in existence that persuaded wag that he grew tea in Pembrokeshire. So convincing was this company that wag gave him a True Taste Award and featured him on the front cover of that magazine!!! In part see where wag are trying to come from, but as usual they get it wrong because of their inability to see the bigger picture.

Ideally I’d like to give you examples of companies that have been unfairly thrown out, because that would allow you to understand more clearly how wrong this selection process appears to be, but as I haven’t asked for their permission to do so and bearing in mind it might well stop them getting a last minute stand, I shall reluctantly stay quiet!!! But as some of these are our Best Of Welsh producers, I am furious with both wag food and Fernleigh, and cannot believe that their isn’t a better way to sort this out.

Now you’d think was enough to go on with wouldn’t you? But I’ve sadly not finished having just been told by a third party that producers have been told to pay up by 31st May, if not they lose their stand. Nothing has been arranged for smaller companies to be able to make stage payments through to July, it’s pay now, in full, or else!!!!!

Without a doubt the Food Hall will have plenty of large companies who will not be stretched in the slightest having to write wag food one large cheque, but for smaller companies it is going to cause them enormous problems. In case wag are not aware or have just forgotten, Wales is still in the midst of a recession, people are cutting back on food purchases, the season so far has been a wash-out and last weekend’s Smallholder Show could hardly be described as even a vague success, sited in the old Food Hall. But isn’t it typical of wag that their focus seemingly remains on the big boys and no thought at all to the smaller guys. If wag food had any vague hope that some of these smaller companies might in the futrue grow, then my suggestion would be to stop trying to strangle the life out of them!

I did hear rumours from a source close to the wag food department that the RWAS Food Hall was going to change this year, but as yet that’s as far as I’ve got, no more news there. Wag food have not told me their plans for altering the Food Hall. Yes of course  some food producers need to become more professional. I’ve said that so many times on welshfoodbites. I’ve complained bitterly about producers not having signage on their stand, no banners, no business cards, no leaflets etc. but I wonder why this is not one of wag’s criteria, because it really should be.

The longer this goes on, the more concerned I am that wag food have lost the plot as far as Welsh food is concerned. OK I can already hear you saying they never knew what the plot was in the first place. But things have to improve whilst we still have some producers left. I’ve no idea at all where wag are getting their advice from, if they are getting any advice at all. But I sincerely hope wag are not paying for said advice, because you are being ripped off if that’s the case.

If, or when I get any updates, I’ll pass them onto you. All I can do is offer my sympathy for those of you that have been ousted without a reasonable explanation, but if what I’m hearing happens I think some traders will change their mind about accepting the stand they have been offered. So maybe some stands will still come along at the 11th hour. I’m really sorry we are again in this situation as an industry. Selfishly I don’t care if producers that aren’t with us on our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers listing, haven’t got in, but do feel so sorry for those of our BOW that have been thrown out.

 
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Great British Cheese Festival – Cardiff

15 May

Yet another rumour that has been gathering in strength is that the Great British Cheese Festival might not run. The date I have for this event is 28th – 29th September. This festival is not funded by wag food and runs under Cardiff City Council.

I have today emailed Cardiff Council and am awaiting a response. As soon as I have one I’ll post again.

I’m hoping that this rumour is untrue as we have many Best Of Welsh & Borders producers who attend this event and had reasonable feedback about it. But it is not just our food producers that will suffer if this festival also bites the dust, but it doesn’treflect well on Wales, does it?

 

 
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What Are The Priorities Of RDP & SCES?

10 May

I  came across a government consultation about Equal Impact Assessment of the RDP asking for views. Sure lots of you have taken the time and trouble to dig through wag’s interesting website to find this too! Well follows is what this is all about, just read through and see what you think:

Equality Impact Assessment of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Plan for Wales

This consultation seek your views on proposed changes to the up coming rural development plan for Wales 2014 -2020.

Start of consultation:03/05/2013

End of consultation:26/07/2013

The purpose of the Environment impact assessments (EIAs) is to assess whether the implementation of the Rural Development Plan is having an adverse impact on people of different equality groups. The EIAs also highlight opportunities for the Rural Development Plan to promote equality across the different equality groups.

The focus is on the following equality groups:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race and ethnicity
  • religion
  • sexual orientation
  • transgender
  • welsh language

We will use the EIAs in the following ways:

  • to assess whether the implementation of the Programme Strategies and Priorities will have a differential impact for particular groups of people
  • inform how equality issues should be considered in any redesign of the programme
  • inform how equality issues should be considered in the shaping of implementation arrangements
  • identify opportunities to promote equality in the programme
  • propose solutions for elimination of any negative impacts which may be identified through the assessments.

The Welsh Government values responses received as part of the EIA consultation process.

Well this certainly rates in my book as very worthy, but in civil service-speak methinks this constitutes ticking a funding box.

In my view RDP and the Supply Chain Efficiencies Scheme should make their priority that money ‘donated’ from RDP & SCES should focus on value-for-money. Ian and I have spent far too long trying to get civil servants to understand that they are not achieving this, they are satisfied in simply paying lip-service to it, or in reality, just ticking another European box, which is what they exceel at. Our last conversation with them, in my view verged on arrogance, especially regarding a SCES funded website that has no shop facilities, but has cost, as far as we can ascertain £129k for a three year programme – yes simply for a basic, bog-standard website. Has the Welsh Government world gone completely mad? Would they really pay these stupid amounts if they were spending their own money? Methinks not!!!! Website rankings are never looked by wag or even taken into consideration. Now who was it that said our government and the rest of us live in two different worlds? Could that have been me?

Again in my view, to say that I think this system is flawed, would be an understatement. However, to get civil servants to admit anything can be improved is no easy task. In fact, on one of my ’bad’ days I’d say it was nigh impossible.

Someone asked me this week if I’m as passionate as I was about Welsh food, well yes, of course I am, but I’m totally disillusioned and disenchanted with our Welsh food department and that means with far too many of our civil servants. The ongoing problem for us is how do we change things? How do we get civil servants to communicate with those involved with food? How do we ever achive value-for-money from these schemes? How do we build a better and more sustainable food industry? How do I get a better deal for our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers?

Questions, endless questions from me, but in fairness I’ve been asking them for too many years a long time and have not made sufficient progress…………………………….

 
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Proper Welsh Milk Company

08 May

News has come in on Proper Welsh Milk Company which some of you might find of interest to some of our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers.

The Carmarthenshire-based company entered administration in March and then a  rescue deal was struck with listed group Dairy Crest. The Proper Welsh Milk Company was founded in 2010 and began trading in October 2011 as the first new-build dairy in Wales for 75 years. By February 2013 it was processing about 250,000 litres of Welsh milk per week to major supermarkets and wholesalers in the region. During the first 15 months of trading the company was supported by several rounds of funding as revenues increased to £5m per year.

But creditors of The Proper Welsh Milk Company are owed more than £1m with only a ‘small distribution’ expected for unsecured creditors. Administrators from BDO said the directors had expected a £300,000 share issue would take place in February 2013 to support the company until it reached break-even turnover of 300,000 litres per week. This was expected to happen by April. However, whilst the capital structure was formally amended for the injection to take place, the additional funding could not be sourced. As a result the business faced a ‘substantial cash shortfall’ at that time.

BDO said an accelerated sale process was explored and the sale to Dairy Crest completed on the same day The Proper Welsh Milk Company entered administration. It paid £325,000 for the assets.

According to the administrators, unsecured creditor claims to date are about £737,000, including £42,000 to HM Revenue & Customs. Cash is also owed to its five secured creditors comprising Finance Wales (£200,000); HSBC Asset Finance (£164,000); The Waterloo Foundation (£113,000); and HSBC Bank (£31,000). About £216,000 owed to HSBC Invoice Finance has already been repaid.

Administrators said the estimated return to the secured creditors is as yet unknown. Adding: “Due to the high level of secured debt, there is unlikely to be any distribution to unsecured creditors within this administration other than by way of the prescribed part.”

 

 
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Welsh Farming Continues To Struggle

15 Apr

We have a number of farmers supporting us on our Best Of Welsh & Borders listing and the tales we’ve heard fro them over the last few weeks as heavy snows hit in many parts of Wales has been very distressing. Farmers are a tough breed of people but to be told that some have even said they’d rather not carry on because all they seem to be doing is facing battles they can’t win. Year after year of late they faced endless rain and floods followed by snow.

I’ve heard a couple of interviews with Minister Alun Davies, can’t say I agreed with much of what he said, but thought his latest written speech, which follows in full, might be of some interest.

Written Statement – Addressing the impact of severe weather on the farming community Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food

Further to my written statement of 2 April, I have met with farmers and their representatives to discuss the serious effects that the recent adverse weather has had on certain parts of Wales. I have also visited a number of farms affected to gain a better understanding of the immediate difficulties being faced, where specifically they apply, and what collectively we can do to address them.

I have also attended all of our recent CAP consultation events across Wales and have very much welcomed the opportunity of meeting with farmers face-to-face, to listen to their concerns and discuss suggestions of how the Government can provide further practical support at this time, as well as considering challenges and opportunities for the longer term.

I pay tribute to all those who have worked day and night to save animals in those areas worst affected, and also to open up rural communities that had been inaccessible because of the snow. I have heard a number of individual stories of the difficulties faced, and both of the efforts made and solidarity shown by families, farming neighbours, and local communities in helping overcome them.

From my discussions over the last fortnight, and from wider contacts with the industry, three sets of issues have emerged. The first relates to practical issues on the ground to enable farm businesses to operate in the areas affected; the second concerns how we – Government, other public and voluntary sector partners, and the industry – can support those worst affected through this period; and the third relates to the future – the longer-term impact of the weather, and how we can strengthen the resilience of the farm sector, and upland livestock producers in particular, to help meet future contingencies.

In relation to practical issues, following advice from my veterinary advisers and having forward weather reports from the Met Office, it is clear that the current derogation for on-farm burial is still necessary for the time being, although its geographical coverage must remain closely targeted on the areas worst affected. I have therefore extended the derogation until midnight on 16 April 2013, covering the same geographic area plus specific parts of north Ceredigion.

I understand from Local Authorities, within the areas identified, that the problem is not uniform in any one area, and I have therefore asked my officials to work closely with Local Authorities to fine tune the application of the severe weather derogation process to ensure the worst affected parishes are identified. Work to provide this additional focus will be progressed over the next week and will ensure any further application of the derogation remains proportionate and directly relevant. In the meantime I would encourage any affected farmers to contact their local authority to discuss the use of the derogation on a case-specific basis.

Those wishing to access the latest Welsh Government guidance and details of the derogation should go to the website. This guidance will continue to be updated as required, and we are liaising closely with other key partners, including local authorities, Natural Resources Wales and fallen stock collectors, regarding the information and support that they are providing.

My officials are continuously gathering evidence from the ground, and I am reviewing the situation on a daily basis. It is important that we understand the specific locational impacts of the snow, so that we can respond as necessary with focussed practical support for those farm holdings in most need. We are ready to work with the farming unions on welcome initiatives such as fodder banks and fodder distribution networks. I am monitoring the position on lorry drivers’ hours, and will seek further derogations if these are needed to keep supplies of feed and other farm inputs moving. I am not aware of any areas within Wales that remain wholly cut off by the snow, but my officials are in touch with colleagues in the Armed Forces should we find that heavy logistical support is needed in particular places.

In terms of direct support, I have asked Farming Connect to prioritise applications from producers in the affected areas for one-to-one support via the Whole Farm Plan. I encourage those farmers interested in the service to contact the Farming Connect service centre directly. Further information and guidance for farmers can be found on both the Welsh Government and Farming Connect websites. There is also the Farming Connect Service Centre, (Contact 08456 000 813) and I urge farmers to take advantage of this to ensure they are receiving the best advice possible in these difficult circumstances.

I am also acutely conscious of the human element in these difficult on-farm circumstances. The confidential help and advice offered by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), Farm Community Network (FCN) and the Addington Trust are very important and welcome services in this context. I am currently reviewing how Welsh Government could further support their work during this period where their resources are under significant pressure. I will also be meeting with colleagues from local government in the areas affected, and working with wider representatives of the voluntary sector to see what other reasonable offers of help may be needed in the near term.

With regard to the future, we will need to assess the longer-term consequences of the recent weather for the Welsh livestock sector and particularly for the lamb market. Together with the industry we will also need to monitor the wider situation on availability of feed across Wales, given that opportunities for grazing have already been significantly delayed this year. But, as a number of stakeholders have said to me in the last fortnight, we also need to review the farming sector’s ability to withstand weather events of this sort, and other emergencies that from time to time arise. This in turn plays into the long-term financial viability and wider sustainability of the sector, particularly in our uplands.

Agriculture will always be reliant on the climate, and concerns raised with me about the cumulative impacts of this latest episode of severe weather suggest there may be an inherent underlying weakness in farm businesses’ resilience (individually and collectively) to cope when difficult circumstances arise. The lamb sector, for example, has experienced a relatively steady period of stable or increasing prices and growing incomes in recent years. It is a matter of great concern if a single year of reduced prices, together with the difficult weather, causes such apparent economic disruption to the sector. These problems cannot simply be remedied by providing further public subsidy, as some have suggested, although how we shape future CAP support is clearly an important part of the picture. It is crucial that we develop effective and resilient farm businesses for the future.

I am therefore establishing an independent review to assess and advise me on these issues, how the sector works with itself and others to meet contingencies, and what might be done to strengthen resilience at business, sector and cross-Wales level. The review will also consider some of the business models that presently apply in the industry, particularly among the livestock sectors, and whether they are actually viable in the longer term. This will be an important piece of work both for Government and for the industry. It will help inform our work in developing CAP arrangements in Wales for the next seven years, and how we shape the next Rural Development Plan. It will also feed into our work on responsibility and cost-sharing, and on taking forward our Working Smarter agenda.

I have asked Kevin Roberts, former Director General of the NFU in England and Wales, and former Chief Executive of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, who has both a financial and commercial background, to lead this review. I look forward to working with Kevin and with the industry to help strengthen the farming sector in Wales for the future.

I will continue to monitor the situation for those areas still affected by the adverse weather, and I remain fully committed to working with the agricultural sector in Wales through this difficult time. I will make a further statement on the weather situation next week, and will also set out further details regarding Kevin Roberts’ review.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.

 

 

 
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Men From Mars – Women From Venus But As For Wag …..

12 Apr

After a further frustrating week trying to work with wag food and other wag departments, I think this analogy should apply to the private and public sectors here in Wales, do you feel the same?

You are all aware that I have been waiting impatiently, and impatient is the polite description, for wag food to send through their funding list through for this year. The latest news was that we’d get the list w/c 1st April, but it was more likely to be Friday 5th. Well Friday arrived, but no list. As the day passed another reminder was sent through which brought the response that the list was now awaiting Ministerial approval – and no idea when it would be rubber-stamped.

Now being bright – well bright ish? Right ok then, let’s agree not totally stupid, I do get that the Civil Service cannot ‘work’ without their paperwork being rubber-stamped by those in the hot seats of power. But the point I’d like them to take on board is to communicate, yes communicate, talk to people and journalists that are talking to them. Wag food know I’ve been champing at the bit to get this list. I’ve asked and asked and asked, even for a simple timescale. Then they do give me a timescale, they then don’t stick to it. Of course they’ll have their reasons but that isn’t my grumble. With Welsh Country magazine, if we have promised a client something by a set date, we know the onus is on us to deliver as promised. If for some reason we can’t do as promised, then we know it is our duty to make contact and explain why things have not gone according to our plan. It is not down to our clients to chase us. So why does that differ with the government? Couldn’t wag food simply have sent me the briefest of emails on Friday 5th saying the list is awaiting Ministerial rubber-stamping and is likely to be sent through some day soon? Couldn’t they then keep me in the loop? What is difficult or time-consuming about that? Have they got hundreds of journalists across Wales wanting this information from them? I guess not, but keeping me in the loop, keeping me happy or in my view, behaving profesionally  is not how it works on wag food.

As you well know, this lack of communication from wag in all departments really riles me, basically because there’s no reason or excuse for it in my book. I’m frequently offered the ‘we’re very busy’ excuse, which is very insulting as it actually means you are not a priority for me to deal with, just wait. Whereas in our small company we bend over backwards to help clients in any way we can, but the difference is, if we don’t offer superb, friendly service our clients might just walk away and go elsewhere. I only wish I had this option with wag food. Wag food continue to make me feel that’s I’m the enemy, which surprises me as it’s a lack of brain power and a lack of forward thinking, which should be to keep us on side as we can not only make your life easier but we also might be able to help each other – which will make life better for our food producers.

So as I post this, mid Friday afternoon, a further week on, I still don’t have the food festival list. I’m left reeling with wag’s lack of customer service and customer care. Mars, Venus, public or private sector, I cannot believe how we will ever relate to each other, despite the fact that they are our civil servants and we pay their wages………now when have I said that before????

Best Of Welsh & Borders producers can rest assured that whenever wag food deem it fit to send me the full list – I’ll forward it  through to you.

Sorry not able to do a better job for you and you’ll understand when I say I feel like giving up…………            

 
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Food Festival Funding – Wag’s Rubber Stamp Is Still Missing

11 Apr

Please, please, please stop asking me if wag’s festival funding list is out. I have NOT yet had it – promise.

My unofficial take on it is that the Minister’s rubber stamp to sign off this funding list is still missing! So until ‘someone’ finds it, we have no choice but to wait and wait…………patiently? No certainly not.

The Minister must be very, very busy as this was supposedly marked as urgent. But those of you ike me in the real world will know well enough that there’s urgent in the private business world and there’s urgent in the public world, but sadly these are woefully not the same.

Let me remind you all again that if you are one of our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers, as soon as we are sent the funding list, you will all be emailed it!!!

 

 
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Food Festival Funding

05 Apr

After waiting for the wag festival funding list to arrive as promised on w/c 1st April, which means it may be the 5th.

Not hearing from wag food, I emailed this afternoon to be told they are awaiting ministerial approval. No further detail given. I’ve gone back again asking when will I have this information and now been told basically they don’t know when the minister will approve although it is marked ‘urgent’

Apparently the best idea is for food festival organisers is to contact wag food direct, sorry but there’s absolutely no point in any more people pestering me for information. I don’t have it!!!!!!

I’ve said that once we receive the list we’ll send if around our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers and that will happen – promise. Now there is nothing else I can do. Please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m only relaying what I’m told from wag food. I’m sure they meant it when they told me this will be out w/c 1st April, but I should have known better shouldn’t I?

I’m only sorry for organisers who find waiting for news of wag funding so stressful. I really do wonder why so many of you take on this so often thankless role.

 
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Haverfordwest Farmers’ Market

02 Apr

This was my yearly visit to catch up with some of our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers. Held every Friday when I am stuck in the office, it’s only Good Friday that I stand a chance of getting there. I was determined to get there this year because for some time I’ve had a lot of grumbles from producers about how their takings from this once, fairly good market have gone down. It’s an outside market and of course the dreadful weather has obviously not helped bring punters in but it also appears to have kept a lot of producers away as well. I was shocked to hear that at their St David’s Day celebration market there was no trader doing vegetables. No leeks on St David’s Day, goodness me that’s a sorry state of affairs isn’t it? As is often the case with our Welsh markets, there is always the group of ‘fair weather’ traders who only attend during the spring, summer and early autumn, and then when the rain and winds arrive they are nowhere to be seen. But I have no sympathy for that group of producers because that is not the way to either build a good market or sustain a good market. Are punters really going to waste their time and energy visiting a market with only a few stands? I really don’t think so.

Now I cannot take the organisers to task on losing traders, but I would suggest they should be more loyal and supportive to the regulars who attend week in week out. Organisers must take on board that trade will be poorer during the bad weather, so why not simply reduce the trade stand prices during the dire late autumn/winter months? I’ve heard of traders standing out for hours in the wet and taking less than £30!!! That’s taking it too far in supporting Pembrokeshire produce isn’t it?

Although it was a very cold day there were quite a few people about, many families with children all eagerly taking part in the Easter Egg Hunt which is always a popular attraction. There were about 18 stands there today and I was pleased some traders were reporting reasonable trade but there were far too many that had time to talk to me!!! I was delighted to see quite a few stands that were beautifully laid out and quite a few that were doing samples. I could have lost my temper with some rude people who simply grabbed at samples with absolutely no intention of purchasing – grab and run was their attitude – but twas ever thus and this will not change. I was also disappointed that some stands had no business cards, no banners, but it’s difficult to make sure unprofessional stands/or pin-money producers stay away, isn’t it?

I know that Pembrokeshire does have a few coffee producers, so I was bitterly disappointed that none of them were there. I can only assume that their non-attendance is down to the market not being busy enough to make it worthwhile for them. It did though give a huge boost in trade for the Costa coffee shop opposite the market as the producers were really in the need of hot drinks.

Markets must be promoted and this must be ongoing, it’s simply not fair to set up a market, tick a box and then hope for the best. I appreciate I’m not a Pembrokeshire based person, so as a visitor I didn’t see signs around Haverfordwest telling me when and where the market is being held. Of course people traffic has slowed down since Boots the chemist moved out, but surely that should be the motivation for Pembrokeshire County to put measures in place to ensure that the market stays buoyant. It was after all PCC’s decision to move the very busy Boots store outside the town wasn’t it? Yet PCC have done very little to address the town itself which seems to have lost most of its life and on Friday appeared to me to be a ghost town. One trader did say that the market was now on local radio and was advertised in the local newspaper and I was in a way pleased to hear that, but from what I’m told it is still not enough to make this market really viable, so much more needs to be done.

As PCC’s County Hall is literally down the road from the market, I do think it would be interesting to do a poll of PCC staff and ask how many of them support their farmers’  market. Goodness knows how many staff are employed at PCC HQ, but if only 30% of them shopped at the market each week, I’m sure the producres might just raise a smile whilst their takings got a boost. I have asked PCC officially how many staff are employed at County Hall and sure I’ll get a figure shortly. 3rd April, I asked again today and got a of 750 people employed there. Well I suggested 30% of them shopping at the market and can only repeat what a difference that would make to our producers standing that market. It will be interesting to see if anything improves!

But do the food team send a weekly email round the staff to remind them that the market is taking place each Friday? My guess is that the majority of council staff dash off to one of the many supermarkets they have surrounding them and give not one thought to their local food producers, which is very sad and disappointing, but that is what I’m understanding from producers. I certainly hope I can exclude the PCC food department from being serious supermarket shoppers!!! To me this is an easy one as support from the County Hall staff would give this market a much needed boost.

 

 
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