[caption id="attachment_7629" align="alignleft" width="300"] Members of Gwent FUW enjoying breakfast at T? Oakley Farm.[/caption]

Farmers in Gwent recently came together to celebrate Farmhouse breakfast week and raise the profile of the farming industry.

Joining in the national Farmers’ Union of Wales campaign, the Gwent branch of the Union organised two breakfasts, which were held at Ty Oakley Farm, Hafodyrynys, Crumlin and at Llanellen Village Hall, Llanellen, Llanfoist, Abergavenny.

Farmers were joined by Nick Ramsey AM for Monmouthshire, Farm watch police officer Allan Mills, together with reps from the local Authority as well as friends and family of the FUW.

FUW Gwent County Executive Officer Glyn Davies said: “This Farmhouse breakfast week was about showcasing the most important meal of the day in a bid to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast and the huge variety of top quality farm produce available in Wales – ranging from bacon, sausages and eggs to speciality dairy products, breads and cereals.

“It was also an opportunity to show decision makers and key stakeholders who joined us how vital a part farmers play in maintaining our rural communities, in sustaining a viable and profitable agricultural sector and of course producing excellent food.

[caption id="attachment_7630" align="alignright" width="300"] Nick Ramsay AM, FUW Gwent county chairman Chris Jones and West Gwent branch county chairman Les Murphy at the breakfast held at Llanellen Village Hall.[/caption]

“I would like to thank you all for your support at these events and thank you to those who supplied us with the breakfast produce. The eggs we had from Philip and Hazel Hunt were really tasty and the bacon and sausage from our local butchers were top quality!

“A special thank you also goes to Howard Vicary and Linda Seward for hosting the breakfast at Ty Oakley and FUW West Gwent Branch chairman Les Murphy and Linda Seward for cooking the breakfast at both events.”

The Gwent branch also raised £350 for the FUW President’s charity BHF Cymru.

[caption id="attachment_7622" align="alignleft" width="300"] Beryn Hughes, Berwyn Hughes, Ceris Anna and Cynan and all the staff at the Llew Coch, Dinas Mawddwy with FUW Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick[/caption]

The Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has hosted six successful breakfast functions as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week campaign (January 21 – January 28).

Over 150 people attended the breakfast functions, which were held on Saturday, January 21, at Castell Hen, Parc, Y Bala, Monday, January 23, at Canolfan Siop y Pentref, Llanfrothen, Wednesday, January 25, at Llew Coch, Dinas Mawddwy, Thursday, January 26, at Marchnad Dolgellau, Friday, January 27, at Tymawr, Carrog, Corwen and Saturday, January 28, at Neuadd Llanegryn, Tywyn.

The aim of the campaign was to raise the profile of Welsh produce and get politicians, key stakeholders and the general public round the breakfast table to highlight the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

“We built on the success of previous years in Meirionnydd, and for the first time held 6 events – up from 4 last year! Again we are grateful to everyone for the support and co-operation, and of course to those who sponsored the events,” said FUW Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones.

[caption id="attachment_7623" align="alignright" width="300"] Ladies in charge of breakfast at Neuadd Llanegryn, Tywyn(l-r) Glesni Davies, Geunor Davies, Nesta Jones, Bethan Roberts - FUW Insurance Services Ltd. Account Executive and Meinir Owen[/caption]

Joining the breakfasts throughout the week were Simon Thomas AM, Prys Morgan Head of Operation HCC, Llyr Huws Gruffydd AM and North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

The Meirionnydd branch also managed to raise over £1,785 for the 6 breakfasts, for the FUW President’s charity BHF Cymru.

Mr Jones added: “We are absolutely delighted with the amount of money we have managed to raise for this worthy cause and there is still money coming in.”

[caption id="attachment_7618" align="alignleft" width="300"] Members enjoying their breakfast at Neuadd y Pentre, Groes[/caption]

The Denbigh and Flint branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) hosted three breakfast in January as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week, to put the spotlight on the rural economy, which were attended by over 100 people.

The events were held on Friday, January 27, at Neuadd y Pentre, Groes, near Denbigh and Cilcain Village Hall, Flintshire, as well as on Saturday, January 28, at Gwytherin Village Hall.

FUW Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer Assistant Gwennan Williams said: “A big thank you to everyone who supported our breakfast events, sponsored produce and helped make these events happen.

“This breakfast campaign provided an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year and throughout breakfast week the FUW put the spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

“We can’t stress enough how much farming matters, so it was good to see so many of our members and friends joining in conversation around the breakfast table.”

[caption id="attachment_7619" align="alignright" width="300"] Family and Friends enjoying a hearty breakfast at Gwytherin Village Hall[/caption]

Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies, who joined the FUW for breakfast, said: “I enjoyed some very tasty local produce at the FUW breakfast held near Denbigh. The farming community is a critical element of my constituency and it is important that the voice of farmers is heard as part of the Brexit negotiations. I look forward to helping ensure that is the case.”

In addition to raising the profile of Welsh farming, the breakfast functions also raised a fantastic £1,345 with more donation yet to be received for BHF Cymru - the FUW President’s charity.

[caption id="attachment_7613" align="alignleft" width="300"] There’s no better place to discuss #FarmingMatters than around the breakfast table![/caption]

Those who joined the Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthen branch for breakfast last week will have enjoyed the great taste of Fforest Isaf Farm eggs, Carmarthenshire Cheese Company’s Boksburg Gold, Rhosyn bacon, sausages and black pudding.

Two breakfasts were organised as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse Breakfast Week campaign (January 21 – January 28), which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh produce and got politicians, key stakeholders and the general public to learn about the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

The first breakfast was held at The Warren, Carmarthen on Thursday, January 26, where Emma and Neil Rose of Rhosyn farm were in charge of breakfast, using their own home-made sausages, bacon, black pudding and fresh eggs straight from the farm.

[caption id="attachment_7614" align="alignright" width="225"] FUW’s Emma and Neil Rose of Rhosyn were in charge of breakfast time at The Warren in Carmarthen[/caption]

On Friday, January 27, the Pumpkin Patch in Carmarthen took centre stage at breakfast time, with a slightly different approach to the traditional breakfast.

Lisa Fearn from the Pumpkin Patch Cookery School and author of ‘Blas / Taste’ and her husband John, hosted a breakfast with a twist, which provided an exciting start to the day with a continental fusion breakfast made with wonderful Welsh produce.

FUW Carmarthen County Executive Officer Assistant, Nerys Edwards, said: “I am so pleased that over 60 people attended our breakfasts, including Adam Price AM, local Councillors, Ruth Mullen Director of Environment at CCC, NSA Cymru/Wales region Chairman Llew Thomas, Wales YFC Chairman Arwel Jones, members, non-members, retired farmers, family and friends. Together we put the spotlight on the Welsh food and drinks industry and were able to highlight just how much farming matters.

“When we think that by the time we get up in the morning for breakfast we have already relied on half the world to feed us, so it is vital that our Welsh food producers get the credit they deserve for providing us with excellent food that is available locally for us day-in, day-out.

[caption id="attachment_7615" align="alignleft" width="300"] Lisa and John Fern are getting ready for breakfast at The Pumpkin Patch[/caption]

“I would like to thank you all for supporting us through Farmhouse breakfast week, joining us around the table to discuss the industry and also help us to raise much needed funds for our President’s charity BHF Cymru. Myself and the team here are absolutely delighted to announce that with your help we raised £658 for BHF Cymru.”

The Carmarthen branch also wishes to thank all those that have given donations and the following for sponsoring the breakfast produce: Rhosyn Farm produce, Fforest Isaf Farm eggs Pontantwn, Cwm Farm Dairy Cwmffrwd, Albert Rees bacon Carmarthen, Fruits of Eden Carmarthen market, Carmarthenshire Cheese Company, Rogers & Son Butchers Carmarthen.

[caption id="attachment_7609" align="alignleft" width="300"] Coming round the breakfast table for #FarmingMatters talks[/caption]

Montgomeryshire farmers opened their kitchens to put the spotlight on #FarmingMatters, the importance of the rural economy and to promote the great Welsh breakfast produce available.

Two breakfasts were held as part of the Wales wide farmhouse breakfast campaign, which were attended by over 60 people in the county.

The first breakfast was held at Trewythen on Monday, January 23 and was hosted by the Roche Davies family and a further breakfast was held on Friday, January 27, hosted by FUW Montgomeryshire County Chairman Mark Williams and his wife Helen at Pen Y Derw, Forden, Welshpool.

Local breakfast produce was kindly supplied by ‘Neuadd Fach Baconry’ and local farmers - Rob Corfield of Bronynant and Ian Roberts of Y Ddol.

FUW County Executive Officer Emyr Wyn Davies said: “I would first of all like to thank everyone who has sponsored our breakfasts and those of you who supported the events. A special thank you also goes to our MP Glyn Davies, and Russell George AM, for joining us around the breakfast table.

[caption id="attachment_7610" align="alignright" width="169"] FUW Montgomeryshire County Chairman mark Williams get stuck into preparing breakfast[/caption]

“This was the first time we have hosted these breakfast functions here in Montgomeryshire and what a success they were! This breakfast campaign provided an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year and throughout breakfast week we put a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.”

In addition to highlighting why #FarmingMatters and raising the profile of Welsh farming, the county also raised £585 for the FUW President’s charity - BHF Cymru.

Mr Emyr Wyn Davies added: “What a fantastic amount of money to raise for such a worthy cause. I am very grateful to everyone who donated money to the charity, who work so hard to find even more discoveries into heart defects and treatments. With 1 in 4 people dying of heart disease in Wales, and over 350,000 living with its burden there is still much more we need to know about how to stop this devastation.”

[caption id="attachment_7601" align="alignleft" width="300"] Promoting Welsh farmhouse produce are (l-r) FUW Ceredigion CEO Mared Rand Jones, FUW Ceredigion County Chairman Anwen Hughes and FUW Ceredigion Administration Assistant Elin Jenkins[/caption]

Over 130 people joined the Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales as they started their day the Welsh Italian way at the end of January.

Two breakfast were organised as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week campaign (January 21 – January 28), which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh produce and got politicians, key stakeholders and the general public round the breakfast table to see the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

The first breakfast was held on Thursday, January 26, at Neuadd Goffa Felinfach, Lampeter and a further breakfast was held on Friday, January 27, at La Calabria, Rhydgoch, Ffostrasol, Llandysul, where a passion for good food and a love of the Welsh countryside and its people are the driving force behind the Italian family-run restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_7602" align="alignright" width="300"] FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas joins the breakfast in Felinfach, Ceredigion[/caption]

Mared Rand Jones, the County Executive Officer for Ceredigion, who organised the breakfast functions, said: “Our breakfast functions have been a huge success and I am glad so many were able to join us.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to share not just great food but also our thoughts and worries about the state of the industry. Many of you told us your stories and helped us to understand how we can help each other. And there was no better time and place to do all that than over a cuppa with some great food – which was guaranteed at the Felinfach and La Calabria breakfasts.”

As part of the breakfast campaign the local Ceredigion branch also raised £1600 for the FUW president’s charity BHF Cymru.

[caption id="attachment_7603" align="alignleft" width="225"] Cooking up an Italian storm the Welsh way - (l-r) Gino Vasami, Graziella Vasami and Tony Hack[/caption]

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

Mared Rand Jones added: “I would like to thank everyone who sponsored our breakfast produce and helped us raise such a fantastic amount of money for the charity in the process.”

A special thank you from the FUW Ceredigion branch goes to the following for sponsoring the breakfast produce: Mark Webb, Butcher, Rhydlewis; Aeron Bacon Supplies, Butcher, Talsarn; Thomas, Golwg y Môr, Butcher, Tanygroes; Sainsbury’s Lampeter; Bara Betws, Betws Ifan; Jones, Pengraig, Ystrad Meurig - Eggs; Jac’s fruit & veg, mobile van, Llanybydder - mushrooms and tomatoes; Brodyr Davies, Penbwliaid, Bryngwyn - Eggs; Lewis Bread, Lampeter; Felinfach Premier Shop and Post Office, Felinfach.