31/7/08

New trade directory helps caterers source organic food

A new edition of the Welsh Organic Trade Directory is now available from Organic Centre Wales. Produced as part of the EU Rafael project, which promoted authentic food links in the Atlantic area, it lists suppliers of fresh and processed organic food in Wales for the public procurement and hospitality sectors.

‘The Welsh organic food market is growing strongly in terms of production, processing and marketing, so now is an ideal time for local authorities, hospitals, hotels and restaurants to be thinking of introducing organic food into the mix,’ said editor David Frost of ADAS Wales, a partner in Organic Centre Wales. ‘Sustainable procurement is becoming very important for the public sector, and organic food delivers environmental benefits including biodiversity, reduced energy inputs and reduced pollution.’

Over 50 companies are represented in the guide, under various categories from beverages to baked goods, and fruit and vegetables to ready meals and food ingredients. They are also classified by their supply capability, whether to independent retailers, the foodservice industry or for export.

The Directory includes a DVD on ‘Sustainable procurement – why organic matters’ which includes interviews with staff from Carmarthenshire County Council and local organic producers, showing the potential of organic food to help local authorities achieve greater sustainability whilst also promoting economic regeneration in their areas. This information will also be available on the Welsh Assembly Government’s Buy4Wales website, which provides guidance for staff who are purchasing goods for the public sector as part of the Value Wales initiative.

The Directory can be downloaded at www.organic.aber.ac.uk/tradedirectory, or hard copies may be ordered from Organic Centre Wales on 01970 622248.

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Further information

David Frost, ADAS Wales 01974 272567 david.frost@adas.co.uk

Dr. Nic Lampkin, Director, Organic Centre Wales 01970 621603 / 07788 791503 / nhl@aber.ac.uk

Notes for the editor:

1. Organic Centre Wales (www.organic.aber.ac.uk) was established in 2000 and is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and operated by a partnership consisting of ADAS, the Organic Research Centre Elm Farm and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University.

2. The Rafael project was an EU Interreg project promoting authentic food systems. For more information see www.rafael-eu.com. 

3. Wales has a significant lead over other parts of the United Kingdom in terms of organic production. Wales’ organic land area increased by 22% during the year ending January 2008, reaching 6.4% of the total agricultural area, according to statistics released on 3 July by Defra.

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