Senior leaders from across Swansea have headed to the great outdoors to see how local produce is being grown for families across the city.
Members of the Swansea Public Services Board (PSB) – including representatives from Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service and Natural Resources Wales – visited a working community farm on Gower.
The visit to Cae Tan Community Supported Agriculture showcased how seasonal vegetables are grown locally and supplied directly to Swansea households through community-supported agriculture.
The event was organised by Bwyd Abertawe Food (Swansea's Local Food Partnership and Network) alongside the Regional Whole Systems Approach to Healthy Weight Team.
It brought together partners committed to strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, sustainable food across the Swansea Bay region, with plans underway to develop a dedicated local food strategy for Swansea.
Dawn Lyle, of 4theRegion and Chair of Bwyd Abertawe Food, said:
“There is real momentum building around strengthening our local food system here in Swansea.
“This gathering at Cae Tan gave us a valuable opportunity to hear directly about the realities faced by growers and farmers, and to explore the potential to increase the amount of vegetables grown locally.
“Bwyd Abertawe is excited by the collaboration now emerging between the Council, the Health Board, community organisations and other local partners who care deeply about building a more resilient, sustainable food future for our city.”
Grower Eva Walter-Jones welcomed partners onto the land, sharing insight into the day-to-day dedication required to take food from farm to fork. She also outlined exciting plans to expand supplies of fresh vegetables to local schools through the Welsh Veg in Schools initiative.
Eva said:
“It was very positive to see so much joined-up thinking and an appetite to do more. It gives a lot of hope for the future of the food system in Swansea and Gower.”
Discussions during the visit focused on how public sector organisations can use their buying power to put more locally grown, nutritious food onto plates in schools, hospitals and other public settings.
Building on earlier work across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, public food procurement has been identified as a key lever in creating a more resilient regional food system.
Cllr Andrea Williams, Joint Deputy Leader of Swansea Council and Chair of the Swansea Public Services Board, said:
“This visit really brought home the connection between the land, our communities and the food on our plates.
“If we want to improve health, support local jobs and protect our environment, we must think differently about how we grow, buy and serve food.
“Swansea has a real opportunity to lead the way by backing our local growers and ensuring more of our public sector food is sourced sustainably and locally. Working together with our partners, we can build a stronger, fairer food system that benefits everyone.”
