The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru has met with Ceredigion County Council to raise its concerns over the local authority’s non-dairy smoothie offering on its stand at the National Eisteddfod.
NFU Cymru members expressed disappointment that Ceredigion County Council had initially elected to offer only oat smoothies on its Pentref Ceredigion stand at the Eisteddfod, which this year is being hosted on a dairy farm in Tregaron.
The union is encouraged that its members’ concerns have been acknowledged and that Ceredigion County Council is now offering visitors to its Pentref Ceredigion stand a choice of dairy and non-dairy options.
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “The National Eisteddfod is a celebration of Wales’ language, culture and heritage and agriculture is an integral part of the fabric of rural communities in Wales.
“We were extremely disappointed to learn that Ceredigion County Council was only offering children visiting its Pentref Ceredigion stand oat drink smoothies.”
The omission of a smoothie made with dairy milk is all the more perplexing given that this year’s National Eisteddfod is being hosted on a prominent dairy farm in the heart of a rural community, NFU Cymru said.
Jones continued:
“We are, however, pleased that the concerns of farmers and other Eisteddfod visitors have been heeded and that the council will now be offering children the option to have fresh, healthy and wholesome cow’s milk in their smoothies during the rest of the event.
“It is unfortunate that this initial and unfortunate oversight has detracted from the Pentref Ceredigion stand’s broader showcase of local produce, cookery demonstrations and rural life.”
