[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.

[caption id="attachment_7596" align="alignleft" width="225"] FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Ritchie Walker and Andrew RT Davies AM highlighting that #FarmingMatters at county breakfast[/caption]

Glamorgan farmers enjoyed a successful breakfast morning, promoting Welsh farmhouse produce and farming matters.

Filling the air with mouth-watering smells, the Glamorgan branch of the FUW joined in the Wales wide FUW campaign, which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh produce and get politicians, key stakeholders and the general public understand the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

The first ever event of its kind was held at Lesser Hall, Cowbridge and was attended by many members, as well as Jane Hutt AM and Andrew RT Davies AM.

FUW Glamorgan County Executive Officer Rachel Saunders said: “We had a really successful breakfast morning and I would like to thank everyone who attended for their support and helping us to showcase why farming matters.

[caption id="attachment_7597" align="alignright" width="223"] FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Ritchie Walker and Jane Hutt AM promote Welsh farmhouse produce and #FarmingMatters[/caption]

“This was our first ever breakfast event and not only did we enjoy some of the wonderful food our farmers produce, we also raised a total of £425 for BHF Cymru, our President’s charity.”

A special thank you is extended to Ty Tanglwyst Dairy and Brynchwith Farm, as well as J G Plant Ltd, HFS Agriculture Ltd, Riverside Hardware and Engineers Supplies, Arthur John & Co, Riverlea Ltd, Pencoed Tyres and S & T Tyre Services for their sponsorship of the breakfast event.

[caption id="attachment_7592" align="alignleft" width="300"] Enjoying a successful Pembrokeshire breakfast: (l-r) FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas, Stephen Crabb MP, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr Keith Lewis, BHF Cymru’s Alan Carrington and FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle.[/caption]

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, so in order to promote the health benefits but also the variety of top quality Welsh breakfast produce available, the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales hosted a farmhouse breakfast on Friday, January 27, at Crundale Hall, Crundale.

The breakfast, which was attended by over 60 people, was part of the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week campaign, which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh food produce and to help politicians, key stakeholders and the general public appreciate the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle, who organised the breakfast, said: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us for breakfast here in Pembrokeshire. It was our first ever breakfast function as part of Farmhouse breakfast week and it is great that so many people got involved with what we do.

“It is always good to share thoughts and worries about the state of the industry and this breakfast provided a fantastic platform for exactly that. We loved hearing your views and it helped us to understand how we can better help each other.

“It was a pleasure to start the day together in a positive and healthy way and at the same time we raised £850 for British Heart Foundation Cymru.”

Jayne Lewis, BHF Cymru’s local Fundraising Manager, said:  “It is partners like FUW who help to get our work off the ground 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.

“Funds raised by our supporters help us in this fight. Our research journey over the last 50 years has been phenomenal but until research provides all the answers, we are committed to supporting heart patients and their families to get the best possible care and advice. Well done FUW for your help and support."

The Pembrokeshire branch would also like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring the breakfast produce on the day: Bethesda Farm Meats, Bethesda; Calon Wen, Narberth; Cig Lodor Meat, Rosebush; Egg Shed Ltd, Haverfordwest; Elgan’s Sheep Services, Llanfyrnach; Fred Hughes & Son Butchers, Haverfordwest; Morrisons, Haverfordwest; Nash Farm Shop, Cosheston; Nigel Williams Butchers, Haverfordwest; Sarah’s Newsagents, Maenclochog; Tesco, Haverfordwest.