Council leads the way on National Beef Day - 13/10/06
A Vale of Glamorgan councillor returned to school on Thursday
(October 5) to enjoy a delicious Welsh beef hot lunch.
Cllr Gordon Kemp, Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services,
was at St David's Church in Wales Primary School, Colwinston, where
pupils, along with thousands of other schoolchildren across Wales,
were marking the first national public sector-based Welsh Beef
Day.
The all-Wales day featured a patchwork of promotional events in
schools across the country as a celebration and recognition of a
substantial shift in public procurement policy to put more Welsh
produce on the plates of schoolchildren and hospital patients.
“We are delighted to take part in this important day that
illustrates the great strides forward that have been made by our
authority in providing Welsh food for our schoolchildren,” said
Cllr Kemp.
“It is a significant stepping stone on the longer journey to
unifying source and supply with a balanced diet and considerable
economic benefits and we are pleased to play a leading role
today.”
The activity is co-ordinated by Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales, and strongly backed by Welsh Assembly Government
Environment., Planning and Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones,
farming unions, processors and butchers in Wales.
Mr Jones welcomed the Council’s initiative. “I am delighted that
the Vale Council has enthusiastically participated in this day of
national activity and helped to demonstrate just how far we have
come in a relatively short time to put Welsh beef on the plates of
Welsh schoolchildren,” he said.
“At last year’s national procurement conference, I appealed to
local authorities to buy Welsh and, in the Vale, they have really
delivered and helped to make today such a success.
“Welsh beef is now widely available in schools and hospitals
across Wales and that is good for our children, our patients, our
environment, our farmers and our economy,” said Mr Jones.