Conwy Council’s 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.
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.
Consultant Dafydd Aled Williams, former Health and Wellbeing Manager for Conwy, says partnerships have been formed in light of Welsh Government’s Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) initiative, with local authorities focused on health, sustainability and supporting families facing cost-of-living challenges.
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: Tendering and the supply chain | Business Wales
Menter Môn’s Food Project Manager David Wylie says there is an exciting journey ahead and “opportunities” for growers in North Wales.
Examples of recent projects include the Larder Cymru 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.
For more information, email david@mentermon.com.
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