YOUR COUNTY NEEDS YOU!

Organisers of an initiative aimed at promoting the food, drink and crafts produced in Gwynedd are looking for ambassadors for the county's produce.

The 'Gwynedd Champions/Ambassadors' project needs shops, cafes and other establishments to create local menus, sell local produce and crafts and take part in a scheme whereby visitors will be able to sample what's on offer by redeeming special £5 vouchers against the produce and crafts that they purchase.

The scheme is part of a wider initiative namely Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd, the Rural Development Plan projects implemented in the county and administered by Gwynedd’s Economic Partnership. The Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Acrtivities within the county are co-financed by Gwynedd Council.

Mirain Gwyn is the Gwynedd’s Offer: Local Produce Co-ordinator.

“We are looking for people who are really committed to promoting local products and produce and the best people to do this are the people already working and living in the county who know and appreciate the quality of what's on offer. “

“Gwynedd's Offer will be there to help and advise by organising workshops on local produce and helping to develop menus with a local flavour and create packs containing samples of crafts, food and drink. The good news for the producers is that we will pay for the samples – and they get to reach a wider market free! The good news for the ambassadors/champions is that they will get specific free training and local value added to what they already offer.”

If anyone is interested in becoming a Gwynedd Ambassador/Champion, they should contact Mirain Gwyn on 01766 514 057 or by e-mail at mirain@annog.com. The recrutiment and training will take place during the next few weeks and the project itself will start in June – just in time for the summer holidays.