Rural Swansea Action will take part in the first ever Food Festival in Gorseinon at the end of April.
Rural Swansea Action is a partnership set up to develop a local approach to rural development. Eight rural wards in the City and County of Swansea are involved in the project: Bishopston, Fairwood, Gower, Llangyfelach, Mawr, Penclawdd, Pennard and Pontarddulais.
The group is currently funded to deliver two specific projects under the Rural Development Plan for Wales (RDP), to help and support local food producers alongside the local Arts, Crafts and Natural Products Producers.
Rural Swansea Action’s projects are part-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and with funding provided by the Welsh Assembly Government, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Gower AONB Sustainable Development Fund and the Swansea Welsh Church Act fund. These funds are matched by office accommodation donated by Penclawdd Community Centre and the time of our volunteers.
Over the autumn period Rural Swansea Action held consultations in all eight of the Wards and one of the recommendations coming out of those consultations was that people would like to see an Annual Food Festival. The Gorseinon Food Festival is exactly the type of festival people were asking for and Rural Swansea Action is delighted to be part of such an exciting and forward thinking project. Unlike many food festivals it kicks off the year with a Spring Event symbolic of a new beginning in the food cycle.
Rural Swansea Action and Gorseinon Food Festival are both part of the new beginnings in Food production awareness in the area. Rural Swansea Action will attend as an umbrella stand for all its members which already number 89 members since last June. You can find Rural Swansea Action’s team in the Local Producers pavilion. The local produce marquees will hold a range of local producers including local meat, local grown vegetables, cakes, herbs and plants. With 20 local produce stands, it is a marvellous opportunity for you to experience and taste food produced and grown on your doorstep.
The main pavilion will have over 35 trade stands with food producers from all around South Wales. Products so far range from savouries; local cheeses, fine delicatessen food, organic products, local sea food and olives.
Those of you with a sweet tooth will find local honey, brownies, ice creams and whoopee pies (if you don’t know what they are come and see for yourself). Drinks are not to be missed, from the national tipple of tea to local beer and wine, all will be found in the main marquee.
Although primarily a Food Festival there will also be Arts, Crafts and Natural Product producers with 20 non food stands located in the Canolfan Gorseinon Centre.
Eironwy Davies the Project Co-ordinator of Rural Swansea Action said ‘It’s a great opportunity to promote the producers we have in the area and to open up new markets for them’ Simon Wright, the owner of ‘Y Polyn’ Restaurant in Nantgaredig is also the Sunday Times food journalist and RAC food consultant. Simon is currently involved in promoting everything that is good in the Welsh Food industry and has given his support to the food festival. He will be taking part in the local school competition which will be announced on the day adding his valuable support to the festival.
Mr Bill Sweetman, a Gorseinon man himself has been the driving force behind the project from the Gorseinon Development Trust. Gorseinon lies between the "Mountains and the Sea" and what better theme to display the very best in local produce combining both those elements which are and can be purchased locally.
It is hoped that the festival will attract many visitors to the town as well as sow the seeds in the minds of small new business's to set up locally in the near future creating opportunities for the local people as well as developing local wealth for the community.
The Festival takes place on Saturday the 24th April 2010 at the Gorseinon Centre, opening its gates to the public at 9.30 a.m. For more details go to www.gdt.org.uk
Put the date in your diary now and prepare yourselves for a fun food extravaganza.