From fish to beer, ice cream to crackers, the Cywain stand in the Royal Welsh Show’s Food Hall will be brimming with flavour and innovation (July 20th -23rd 2015).
A number of small and up and coming food producers will be featured in the Food Hall under the auspices of Cywain – a project created to bring added value to primary produce within the agriculture sector.
A total of eight companies will feature on the Cywain-managed stand over the four days (July 20-23) of the Show, creating a diverse range of food and drink.
Many of the producers will be making their show debut, while others will be launching new products and ideas.
On the show’s first day, North Wales ice cream producer Hufen Ia Aran will be quite literally getting on its bike!
Three years ago Karen Bisby started making ice cream on the family farm just outside Llanuwchllyn. With assistance from Cywain she has developed her branding and packaging enabling Hufen Ia Aran to take to the shelves in local shops and at tourist attractions in the Bala area.
She uses double cream and fresh homemade ingredients such as honeycomb, to create the 14 fabulous flavours including favourites like vanilla, chocolate and the more unusual, like gooseberry and ginger, lavender, rose.
Also at the show will be ‘Fred’ – Hufen Ia Aran’s ice cream bike, which can be hired for special occasions along with a bespoke flavour service.
Ceredigion based Penlon Cottage Brewery will be on hand to quench thirsts on the Show’s second (July 21) with their bottle-conditioned artisan lager, ales and stouts.
Produced on farm above New Quay, each crafted using uncomplicated, time-honoured methods – and the purest of ingredients.
Also in addition to their 10-strong drink range Penlon will be trying something different – a beer cocktail produced specially for the Royal Welsh Show! www.bayviewbrewery.co.uk
On Wednesday (July 22) visitors will be able to learn more about the Cywain Bee, a project set up to support Welsh beekeeping and boost honey production in Wales.
Taking to the Cywain stand to sample and sell their honey will be Ceredigion based beekeepers group, Gwenynwyr Cymraeg Ceredigion (GCC).
The group – which conducts all its activities through the medium of Welsh – aims to keep Welsh honey and traditional Welsh beekeeping terms alive, organizing various workshops, visits and shows.
Non-Welsh speaking members are given help with translation, and with assistance from Cywain Bee the group has seen its membership grow. www.wbka.com/associations/ceredigion
The final day of the Show sees the launch of a new micro-brewery – Cwm Rhondda Ales who are seeking their share of a growing market.
The brainchild of siblings Grug, Caryl and Arwel Jones, the enterprise brews craft beers using locally produced malt barley and hops and natural spring water from the family’s Fforch Farm in the heart of the Rhondda Valley.
The company’s first two ales – Boyo and Shwmae But – are already proving popular at food festivals and in pubs around South Wales, with two more – Tommy Box and Pithead – due to go on sale shortly. www.cwmrhonddaales.co.uk
Fish and shellfish lovers are in for a treat too when they visit the stand, with displays throughout the week of fabulous Welsh fish and seafood – as part of Cywain Fisheries which helps the fishing sector to grow through added value and development of new products and markets.
The underlying aim is to encourage more people to buy Welsh fish, and the Welsh Seafood Campaign will highlight the variety, quality, availability and versatility of fish and shellfish caught around the Welsh coast.
Visitors to the stand on Monday and Tuesday will be able to view some of the catch as well as take part in a competition and try some delicious Welsh Seafood Chowder.
While Mandy and Len Walters’ Cardigan Bay Fish will be bringing a range of produce to the stand on Wednesday and Thursday (July 22/23).
The family-run business will have dressed crab, crab salad sandwiches, lobster salads, half lobsters, Mandy’s Potted Crab and also coracle caught wild salmon quiches.
They fish lobster all year-round, adding spider crabs, bass and Mackerel during the spring and summer months and Cardigan Bay scallops in the winter. Also in the spring and summer Len and son Aaron – who both hold special licences – fish the River Teifi for sewin and salmon.
With Cywain Fisheries’ support they are developing ways to add value to their catch and establishing outlets in their region.. www.cardiganbayfish.co.uk
Throughout the Show visitors to the Cywain stand will be able to give their opinions on a number of products that are currently under development.
Three producers will be gathering public feedback on their latest projects: The Little Welsh Cheese Company, OM3, and Cnwc Crackers.
Monday’s showgoers will be able to share their thoughts with The Little Welsh Cheese Company form Cymau in Flintshire who will be sampling their new mature cheddar and gouda cheese.
On Tuesday it will be turn of Pembrokeshire dairy farmer Will Prichard who will be trying out OM3 – a new milk brand naturally enriched with Omega-3.
While on Wednesday Newcastle Emlyn based Cnwc Crackers will be seeking the public’s opinion of its range which include: Halen Môn Sea Salt Crackers, Sweet Onion Crackers, Toasted Seeds and Garlic Crackers, Chilli Crackers and Fat Mouse Organic Hafod Cheddar Crackers.
CYWAIN STAND – PRODUCERS TIMETABLE
PRODUCER DAY
Aran Hufen Ia Monday, July 20th
Penlon Cottage Brewery Tuesday, July 21st
Gwenynwyr Cymraeg Ceredigion Wednesday, July 22nd
Cwm Rhondda Ales Thursday, July 23rd
CYWAIN FISHERIES – TIMETABLE
PRODUCER DAY
Welsh Seafood Campaign Monday, July 20th
Welsh Seafood Campaign Tuesday, July 21st
Cardigan Bay Fish Wednesday, July 22nd
Cardigan Bay Fish Thursday, July 23rd
CYWAIN STAND – CONSUMER SAMPLING TIMETABLE
PRODUCER DAY
The Little Welsh Cheese Company Monday, July 20th
OM3 Tuesday, July 21st
Cnwc Crackers Wednesday, July 22nd
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Cywain
Cywain was set up by Menter a Busnes to bring added value to primary produce within the agriculture sector. The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
For more information about companies exhibiting on the Cywain stand at the Royal Welsh Show please contact:
Myrddin Davies
Cywain Manager
01745 770273 / 07964 354674
myrddin.davies@menterabusnes.co.uk
For more information about the Cywain Bee project please contact:
Haf Wyn Hughes
Cywain Bee Development Manager
Menter a Busnes
01745 770278 / 01248 660075
haf.hughes@menterabusnes.co.uk