Sheep’s spot on Ark list to be celebrated
WELSH produce will be celebrated after being recognised by an international food movement.
The Slow Food SE Wales group is holding an event to mark the inclusion of South Wales mountain sheep into the Ark of Taste, which is essentially the international foodie hall of fame run by the Slow Food movement – and the group will be using the event to launch the Ark of Taste Wales.
Carol Adams, secretary of Slow Food SE Wales, said: “The Ark of Taste is a really great way of getting international recognition for local food and produce from Wales across the world.”
Slow Food is a grassroots movement established by activist Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986.
The aim of the movement is to defend regional traditions, good food and a slow pace of life.
In over two decades of history, the movement has evolved to embrace a comprehensive approach to food that recognises the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture. It has since spread worldwide and is promoted as an alternative to fast food.
To celebrate the Ark of Taste’s latest inclusion, the Cynon Valley Museum will be hosting an event where visitors of all ages can enjoy cooking demonstrations and talks as well as local food stalls, crafts and street food from Penrhiw Organic Farm, Merthyr Tydfil.
The event is being held on Saturday, April 29 from 11am to 4pm.
Award-winning Dusty Knuckle Pizza will also be making an appearance – creating a special lamb pizza for the day using meat from Aberdare producer Off My Land.
Carol added: “We are using this event to launch the Ark of Taste Wales – a part of the international Ark of Taste – to identify all the wonderful Welsh food that is in danger of being forgotten.
“Now we want as many people as possible from all over Wales to tell us what they’d like to see included.
“Essentially the Ark is an international catalogue of endangered heritage foods which is maintained by the global Slow Food movement. It is designed to preserve at-risk foods that are sustainably produced, unique in taste and part of a distinct ecoregion.”
The south Wales mountain sheep, farmed in the Cynon Valley, is the first livestock from south east Wales to be included in the Ark of Taste.
The only other Welsh products to be included in the Ark of Taste are Penclawdd cockles from Burry Port, artisan Caerphilly cheese and the pedigree Welsh pig.
Carol, who also runs Aberdare-based food tourism business Food Adventure UK, added: “We want people from across Wales to tell us about the food and produce local to them that they love and which they would like to see gaining more recognition.
“And it’s so easy to nominate something. There will be opportunities to do so throughout the day at the event itself, or, if you can’t make it in person then either tweet us your ideas on @SlowFoodSEWales or post to our Facebook page using the hashtag #ArkofTasteWales.”
Volunteers at Slow Food SE Wales are already planning another event at the end of this year which will aim to bring together all nominated foods, livestock and produce.