Farming Matters – How farming makes a difference to what we eat

Farming makes a difference to everything around us – from the food we eat to the environment we live in. Visitors to NFU Cymru’s stand at this year’s Royal Welsh Show will see for themselves why and how ‘Farming Matters’ to everyday life.

Each day NFU Cymru will provide show goers with information on how farming makes a difference to their lives, starting with the Monday when visitors will learn how farming makes a difference to what we eat.

Did you know that:

Of an average basket of food costing £37 the farmer receives just £11. The farmer’s share of the food pound has fallen 25% in the last 15 years and he receives just 13% of what you pay for a loaf of bread, 30% of what you pay for a pint of milk and 40% of what you pay for beef.

70% of livestock in Wales is covered by a Farm Assurance Scheme to ensure produce is of the highest standard for customers.

There are currently at least 35 farmers markets and 21 farm shops registered in Wales and the numbers are ever increasing.

The agri-food industry is worth £2billion to the national economy.

There are over 100 different varieties of Welsh cheeses which are sold across the world.

As well as learning about how food makes a difference, visitors to the NFU Cymru stand will also get a taste for it. NFU Cymru as a supporter of the Welsh True Taste Awards will be providing visitors to the stand with tasters of previous award winning foods and drinks. As Wales has so many different varieties of cheeses to offer, NFU Cymru has also teamed up with South Caernarfon Creameries to provide visitors to the stand with cheese tasters.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President, said, “We hope Royal Welsh Show visitors enjoy sampling a little taster of why farming matters to them and the ways in which it makes a difference to their everyday lives.”

Each day of the Royal Welsh Show will have a different ‘Farming Matters’ theme. Monday is agri-food, Tuesday is the environment, Wednesday is how farming makes a difference in terms of production and Thursday visitors to the stand will learn how farming matters to the economy.