FUW Members Join Breakfast 'Wake Up' Call

growing number of farmers holding fund-raising breakfasts in their homes has allowed the Farmers' Union of Wales to give this month's annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week its strongest ever support, the union revealed today.

Breakfasts will be held on six farms and another at Bryncir Mart's cafe in Caernarfonshire - with proceeds shared between FUW president Emyr Jones' chosen charity Cancer Research Wales (CRW) and the Caernarfonshire fund for the Eryri 2012 Urdd National Eisteddfod - and on three Denbighshire farms with total proceeds going to CRW.

Farmhouse Breakfast Week is an annual campaign organised by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) and was first held in 2000. This year it runs from January 22 to 28 and the FUW events will be a golden opportunity to promote Welsh food produced locally.

The FUW's three traditional farmhouse breakfast events at the Welsh, UK and European government buildings in Cardiff, London and Brussels begin tomorrow (January 17) at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay and continue at the House of Lords a week later (Tuesday January 24) and the European Parliament headquarters the following day (Wednesday January 25).

All three events are sponsored by the Welsh Government, Welsh red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru and NatWest Bank. Guest speaker at the Senedd will be deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies and at the Lords American counsellor for agricultural affairs at the US Embassy in London Daryl Brehm will be among the speakers.

"The FUW is a keen supporter of HGCA's campaign which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the variety of breakfast foods available in Wales and the rest of the UK," said Mr Jones.

"The theme for the campaign - 'Shake Up Your Wake Up' - encourages us to make small changes to our morning routine to make sure you have time for breakfast every day!

"All stages of the food chain, from farmers to food producers and retailers to consumers, are holding events to promote the importance of starting the day with breakfast and to celebrate the wealth of wonderful breakfast produce available around the country, especially in Wales.

"The 'Shake Up Your Wake Up' campaign is all about showcasing the most important meal of the day to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast and the huge variety of top quality farm produce available in Wales ranging from bacon, sausages and eggs to speciality dairy products, breads and cereals."

Mr Jones said he was particularly pleased to learn that this year the FUW's Denbighshire branch had arranged for some of its members to hold fund-raising breakfasts at their farms for the first time.

They will take place at Fferm Pontruffydd, Bodffari, Denbigh on January 23; Tal y Bryn, Llannefydd (January 25) and Cappele, Cwmpenanner, Cerrigydrudion (January 26). The cost will be £10 per person and pre-booking is essential by contacting the FUW county office at Ruthin (Tel: 01824 707198).

The Caernarfonshire breakfasts, also costing £10, will take place at Ty'n Hendre, Talybont, Bangor (January 23); Bryn Rhydd, Edern (January 23); Pyllau Gloewon, Talybont, Conwy (January 24); Afon Wen, Llanystumdwy, near Pwllheli (January 25); Ysgubor Fawr, Pontllyfni (January 26); Dylasau Uchaf, Padog (January 27); and Cegin Anne, Bryncir (January 27). To book a place contact the FUW county office at Caernarfon (Tel: 01286 672541).