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Food producers and independent businesses could benefit from a partnership with Conwy schools.<\/strong><\/p>\n Conwy council\u2019s Catering department has piloted a Welsh Government Foundational Economy and Business Wales initiative encouraging more local authorities to use Welsh suppliers when designing primary school menus.<\/p>\n Following a pilot study which focused on green vegetables including broccoli, the organisations are calling for growers in the region to meet the demand and explore pathways to supplying fresh produce for schools.<\/p>\n Consultant Dafydd Aled Williams, former Health and Wellbeing Manager for Conwy, says partnerships have been formed in light of Welsh Government\u2019s Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) initiative, with local authorities focused on health, sustainability and supporting families facing cost-of-living challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been a lot of research and work behind the scenes over the last year to introduce more Welsh produce onto schools\u2019 menus,\u201d said Dafydd.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTaking broccoli as an example, there was a test period where pupils were given fresh broccoli for a period of three weeks and much preferred it to frozen.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe task then is to see how financially viable it would be to introduce fresh locally grown broccoli, which on evaluation would be on a long-term basis, but at present there is nobody in the region producing the quantities needed to supply schools.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe can see the project unfolding over the next three years initially, identifying potential local commercial vegetable growers to work with the current fruit and veg wholesaler to explore budgets and costs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis demonstrates that there are commercial opportunities in growing other foodstuffs including leeks, onions and also salad vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce, which would have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy, for the environment and ultimately the healthy eating habits of future generations of children.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He added:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cConwy Council has worked incredibly hard to use independent businesses and local produce where possible and other local authorities have done the same, so hopefully if everyone keeps moving in that direction it will be of long-term benefit to businesses and schools in North Wales and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Earlier this year, Business Wales held virtual events on Social Value in the Public Sector and Welsh public sector supply chains, in addition to procurement, frameworks and tendering processes.<\/p>\n Menter M\u00f4n<\/a>\u2019s Food Project Manager David Wylie says there is an exciting journey ahead and \u201copportunities\u201d for growers in North Wales.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have interested parties and are working hard to encourage more independent producers and businesses to capitalise on what will be huge demand,\u201d he added.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe want them to play a major role in public sector supply chains and appear on the menus of schools in Conwy and other local authorities keen to use more local food and drink.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis in turn will boost the economy, employment, and give these small businesses a new revenue stream.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Examples of recent projects include the Larder Cymru<\/a> Welsh Food for Schools scheme, backed by the Welsh Government Foundational Economy Team, which promotes Welsh produce and producers from across Wales and highlights how, by buying from them, schools will shorten their supply chains, encouraging sustainability, lowering carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n
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