Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:11 pm on 18 January 2022.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd, and thank you for your statement this afternoon, Minister. It's great to see the Welsh Government supporting the fantastic food and drink producers from across Wales. Naturally, I'd like to focus upon the amazing producers and retailers that we have here in the Vale of Clwyd. BlasCymru already champions one of my constituency's crown jewels, which is the Denbigh plum, but the Vale of Clwyd is home to a vast array of great produce and producers. So, how will your Government help to promote these products to a wider audience?
One great producer in the Vale of Clwyd is Lizzy Jones of Bodfari, who turns fruit grown on the family farm into an amazing selection of fruity liqueurs and gins. She received help from Menter a Busnes and their Cywain scheme to help develop Shlizzy into an international business. How can BlasCymru help Shlizzy reach wider appeal? And, Minister, do you agree that it's not just a case of promoting our produce for sale overseas, but we need to be encouraging overseas visitors to come to places like Denbigh or Bodfari to enjoy the blas lleol? Will you agree to work with groups such as the Clwydian Range Food and Drink group to help promote not only our fantastic food and drink producers, but also the farm shops, restaurants and tea rooms that stock the amazing produce that the Vale of Clwyd has to offer? Thank you.