Last week Cowbridge Farmers' Market held their AGM and a few new officers were elected, lets introduce you to the team.

Name: Ryan Lippett
Business Name: Eleri’s Welshcakes 
What do you sell at the market? Homemade Welshcakes in a variety of traditional and contemporary flavours. Whether your a traditionalist or fancy something a bit different - we try to cater for everyone!
How long have you been a member of Cowbridge Farmers Market? Only a few  months but we’ve loved being part of such a brilliant group of traders. We now attend every other week. 
 What is the background to your business? My wife Jess and I, moved to the East Midlands from Penarth back in 2016 for work. In July 2017, we welcomed our daughter Eleri to the world. In order to try and teach Eleri about her Welsh heritage, one snowy day in March 2018, we decided to introduce Eleri to welshcakes, but soon realised they weren't readily available in local supermarkets like they were back home! We took to the hot plate and decided to have a go at making home made welshcakes instead. After handing out the leftovers to friends and colleagues we soon realised that there was a market for these small Welsh delights in the East Midlands …. and who better to be the face of the business than Eleri herself?
 We attended some brilliant markets in the East Midlands, and spent lots of time speaking to customers about their Welsh connections, whether it be through holidays or family. Although we were surprised about the amount of people who had never heard or Welshcakes! We soon changed that!
 When lockdown hit is when our business really started to take off. We’d always offered postal boxes of Welshcakes but with families and friends no longer being able to see each other, our “socially distanced cwtch” boxes really took off. Like many other bakers, scrambling around for flour with the panic buying was interesting! 
 After a fantastic 4 years in the East Midlands, we’ve moved back to South Wales, there’s simply no place like home!
What is a typical day for you? With 2 young daughters, the days are typically centred around them - we have lots of late nights baking.  Girls washed and dressed and  Eleri off to nursery. Whilst Ava naps, it’s time to pack up the postal orders (it really is a race against the clock as you never quite know how long you’ll get!). After a trip to the post office it’s time to get Eleri from nursery. Once Jess finishes work, we swap over, she looks after the girls whilst I start baking for the collect orders and the market. After what is usually a pretty late night baking, I’m up early and off to the market whilst Jess waits in for our collect orders. 
What is a common question your customers ask you? It’s mainly around dietary requirements, we offer Welshcakes suitable for vegan and gluten free diets - we’re still working on a recipe suitable for diabetics!
What do enjoy most about your job? When customer’s tell us how much they have enjoyed the cakes. You can’t beat that!
Tell us a little about your background/family: I’m a stay at home Dad and full time Welshcake baker, whilst my wife Jess works in rail freight. We have two daughters, Eleri who is 3 and Ava who is almost 1 - both girls absolutely love Welshcakes - it’s a surprise we manage to get the cakes out the door at times!
How do you like to relax?
Spending time with my family, we’re so busy during the week with work, nursery and baking but always try to make time to go for walks and picnics when we can. 
What is your best selling product and which product do you think is under rated? Best selling has to be traditional raisin, underrated is reese’s - we find people are always a little unsure when it comes to peanut butter but they really are delicious!
What are you looking forward to doing after lock down? Having a house warming party with our family and friends! It’s been great being back home but there’s been so many faces we still haven’t been able to see.
Do you have any exciting plans for the future – business or pleasure? We’ve got lots of different flavour ideas to try but we also fancy trying savoury Welshcakes, we’ve had quite a few requests for them so think it might be time to give them a go!

Name:  Mathew Williams                                                                                                                                                                                 
Business Name: Rock & Scallop Fishmongers
What do you sell at the market? The finest in fresh fish, seafood and shellfish from British and Welsh waters
How long have you been a member of Cowbridge Farmers Market? Started attending in March 2021 and now attends every Satrurday
What is the background to your business? 
Had the Crispy Cod fish & chip shop in Gelli which is an award winning, top 10 in the UK fish and chip shop and saw the gap int he market where people wanted quality fish so the Rock & Scallop fishmongers was born through lockdown
What is a typical day for you?
Its a very busy day starting with deliveries at 5am, then meetings and admin until 10, the chip shop in Gelli will open at 12. Weekends are all about the Rock & Scallop fishmongers and in-between opening the restaurant in Pontyclun ready for hopefully Christmas 2021. 
What is a common question your customers ask you?
Hows the quality so good ;)
What do enjoy most about your job?
Meeting lovely friendly customers
Tell us a little about your background/family:
Grandfather was a fruit and veg trader - passion pleasing customers and giving people the finest quality
How do you like to relax?
Relaxing? Whats that? 
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I hate fish. No just kidding. I love rugby
What is your best selling product and which product do you think is under rated?
Our prawns fly out but it has to be our Pembrokeshire Lobster - amazing!
What are you looking forward to doing after lock down?
Opening up my restaurant in Pontyclun - The Rock & Scallop. It will be Wales premier fish restaurant 
Do you have any exciting plans for the future – business or pleasure?
My wife will kill me but its all business right now so that future years can be pleasurable. 

Business Name:  Cowbridge Country Market
What do you sell at the market? Homemade cakes, sweets, other bakes, savouries and a huge selection of preserves: marmalades, jams, jellies and lemon curd as well as unusual chutneys - all home made
How long have you been a member of Cowbridge Farmers Market? Since the very beginning! Cowbridge Country Markets have been attending since the very first market back in 2000, and now attend the market every other week.
What is a typical day for you? We are a cooperative of home cooks, so although most of us have retired, some of us still work and fit in the baking. Those of us who are retired usually find ourselves busier than you might think with various committees and other local concerns besides helping out with our families and tending our gardens and allotments.
What is a common question your customers ask you?  Is it all home made?  The answer is an emphatic YES!  We make everything freshly for market (so the customer can freeze it), using the best ingredients we can find – all as if we were making things for our families.
What do enjoy most about your job?  Satisfied customers who return time and again, sometimes seeking us out especially if they've found something particularly to their liking.  It's such a buzz for all of us to hear that someone really enjoyed something we've made.  
Tell us a little about your background/family: All of us have different backgrounds, but one thing we share is a great passion for baking and preserve making.  In these strange pandemic times, many of our cooks have had to stay at home, so Carol's husband (Tim) has made a regular appearance helping out on the stall.  Although he likes to keep away from the limelight, he's actually a talented chocolatier who can sometimes be persuaded to make his dark chocolate honeycomb.
What do you like to do when you are not working? Those of us who are still working find markets a way to relax after a hard day in the office.
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know? Of those of us who normally attend Farmers' Market, our combined age is… over 300!
What is your best selling product and which product do you think is under rated? Biggest seller continues to be Seville orange marmalade – we struggle to keep up with demand, and being seasonal, it's difficult to make enough for the whole year.   Hidden gems in the baking include our Eccles cakes which are completely hand-made, including the rough-puff pastry; they're a labour of love!  

Meet the Producers #14
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Laure Boutrais
Business Name: ABSORB
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I Sell fermented foods and drinks, particularly Water Kefir and Sauerkraut
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Started during lock down Summer 2020 and I attend every other week.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
I qualified as a Naturopathic Nutrition Consultant in 2017. While completing the course at the School of Naturopathic Nutrition, I discovered the health benefits of fermented foods and
drinks, particularly Water Kefir.
I have since mastered the art of brewing Water Kefir, adding fruits, herbs and flowers to produce a range of natural flavours. I also make Sauer kraut and supply salt products like Gomasio (sesame salt).
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
10 minutes meditation, go for a run, admin and marketing for the business, produce and prepare for markets and shop orders, some healthy foods along the way: a green smoothie for breakfast, a nutritious salad for lunch and a lovely warming meal for dinner and lots of herbal teas and water throughout the day! Catching up with friends or family in the evening around a nice glass of Kefir!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
"I thought water kefir was only a dairy product? tell me a bit more about water kefir!" yep, this one is vegan, with 15 strains of probiotics and B vitamins, it much more pleasant to drink than the dairy version.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅?
I find connecting to nature very relaxing, going for a walk, gardening, being with animals but also grounding in meditation, yoga or an epsom salts bath.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯? I love sharing my knowledge with customers about health and nutrition and being able to support them with a product I make myself that can help with their digestion, energy, immunity and wellbeing.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I love playing funky tunes on my saxophone!
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
I come from Normandy and my parents are very close to the land and traditions, growing veg, making cider. I came to Wales in 1995 as part of an EU exchange to gain work experience after my diploma in Economics and had my first placement at the WDA. I then worked in several companies in South Wales in Logistics but was dying to learn more about health and nutrition and that's how I started the business through learning about fermented food and drinks within my course. I still have a part time job and I have 2 teenage boys, one of which is going to train in France to become a blacksmith!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
The Water kefir original is a great all-around drink that can be drunk on its own at any time of the day or mixed with fresh juice. It is refreshing, boosting and will ease most digestive discomforts as well as reinforce the immune system, but the best seller is the Ginger & Lemon!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Travelling abroad again, visiting my family back in France
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲?
Plans are to spread the word about the benefits of drinking water kefir and consuming more fermented foods. I want to be part of the health revolution and realisation that the only way to save our world is by reconnecting with nature, with ourselves and be part of a community that can support each other. I am hoping to run workshops again around gut health and open up my non-alcoholic bar at HQ, the Bridge Studios with kefir, kombucha and mocktails!

Meet the Producers #13
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Andrea Staggemeier
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Bossa Nova (TM) of Chocolate Party Express Limited
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
Bossa Nova produces and sells handmade luxury Brazilian style chocolate truffles as well as unique occasion chocolates.
Our chocolates are great to treat yourself or as a gift to friends and family.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
I started attending Cowbridge Farmers Market in July 2020. I am grateful to be part of this community and the Market's team support over the last few months.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
Bossa Nova is the newly registered trademark of Chocolate Party Express Limited. I started the business in June 2019, very timidly, and not knowing if the public would accept my products. After my first Christmas in 2019, I realised that this was just what I wanted to do, and I embraced the support from Cywain part of Food Innovation Wales.
The rebranding work was a great experience, and we have started sharing it with our customers on Dec/20 with great feedback.
Bossa Nova is a music genre that mixes Jazz, Soul and Samba, into a beautiful melody. We would like to think our chocolate dance with your tastebuds into the tune of The Girl from Ipanema. The music, which propelled Bossa Nova into the world, sung by Astrud Gilberto untrained voice. This period in Brazil, the mid-'50s to mid-'60s, was a very creative era in Brazil. We got our inspiration for the rebranding from this sophisticated and wealthy time in Brazil's culture. The Pure Taste of Brazil!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I live and breathe Bossa Nova nowadays. I like to take my time and drink lots of coffee (a very Brazilian thing too). I tend to plan the day with what needs cooking, paperwork and what help I need from our son. He is responsible for all the paper cutting you see in our packaging, from cutting the cases, printing and cutting the labels and preparing the boxes. His role is small but very much appreciated. My husband, Des, also helps at the Pontcanna Market twice a month and helping prepare for the markets on Saturdays to make sure we have all the things we need for a smooth day. His support over the last 22 years we have been married is beyond words. I love the two of them with all my might.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I think the most common question has to be: What is the difference between the traditional chocolate truffle (ganache-based truffle recipes) and the Brazilian style chocolate truffles.
Brazilian style chocolate truffles are made with Sweetened Condensed Milk as their base product, whereas traditional chocolate truffles are mostly ganache-based. The Brazilian style truffle is also cooked, whereas the traditional one is the chocolate is melted in the hot double cream.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
I enjoy seeing customers' faces when they try our chocolates and their feedback.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
I was born in the South of Brazil, and I am the middle child. I enjoy learning a lot, and I have two degrees, an MSc and a PhD in Math and Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence). I married Des, in Brazil and we came to the UK/Bristol for me to study for my PhD. I am also Italian by descendants, German by married, British by choice and Welsh in my heart. Our son born in the UK, and we moved to Wales when he was one year old.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅?
In our hot tub, best redundancy money investment ever. We love watching films, series and since lockdown, this has been a wonderful family time.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I have won the Science Fair in my primary school three years in a row. When I say I love to learn, I mean it started very early on indeed
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Our two best sellers in Cowbridge Farmers Market are the Raspberry and White Chocolate and the Cappuccino cups. I have to thank a customer from the Market for the cappuccino cups, as it was her request that led me to create this recipe.
In terms of underrated, I think the Pecan and Dark Chocolate and the Coconut Cream and White Chocolate. Still, when customers try, they enjoy them.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Hug tightly, my family and friends. We want to go to Brazil to see our family and scatter Dad's ashes as I couldn't travel to his funeral last year.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲?
We started supplying retail outlets and are looking to expand our presence in this sector. We have also entered the Great Taste Award 2021. Results are out in Sept, so fingers crossed! We are perfecting our chocolate bars on the product development front, filled with Brazilian style truffles and beautifully decorated for Father's Day.

Meet the Producers # 12
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Nick Craddock
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Vale Cider
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
Craft traditional ciders, fruit ciders, apple juice, apple cider vinegar and apple butter.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
6 years
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
We have had a small holding for 20 years and have variously kept pigs, cows, goats, alpacas, geese, ducks and chickens as well as planting apple trees. We have made cider for us, family and friends for many years. After I retired from being a medical researcher, we increased production and started selling to the public in 2015.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
It depends enormously on the time of year. At harvest time (September - November), the vast majority of our time is spent either picking apples or pressing apples. What we press then is all that we have for the coming year. At other times of year our time is taken up with pruning and orchard maintenance (mainly winter), mowing grass (Spring and Summer), bottling and labelling (mainly Spring) - and throughout the year we are doing local van deliveries of our cider, sending out courier deliveries and manning market stalls.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
Where do you get your apples? People are often surprised when we tell them we grow all our apples on the farm at Bonvilston.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
Customers enjoying our products.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
I was a medical researcher and retired in 2014. Our family has lived in Wales, England and the US before settling back in Wales 20 years ago. I have family in Carmarthenshire, the Scottish Highlands and the English West Midlands.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅?
Listening to music whilst working on a model railway.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I made a BBC documentary with Stephen Fry about our research.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Our best seller is Serious Scrumpy. Our Apple Butter is delicious but many people have yet to try it.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Being able to see family, friends - and more of our lovely customers - face to face.

 
Meet the Producers #11
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Myfanwy Edwards
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Artisan Cakes
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Cakes and scones. My range of cakes changes every week, but will always include boiled fruit cake, sponge cakes in a variety of flavours, carrot cake and plain & fruit scones. There will always be several that are gluten or dairy free as well. I currently also have Free range eggs on my stall which I sell for Tynycaia Farm, Llandow.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I attended the second market back in 2001 helping my husband Richard on his beef stall, but have had my own stall selling cakes intermittently over the years! I have been secretary of the market since about 2005, which means It’s me who sends out all the emails, and does all the general organising for the market.
In September 2018 I set up the Cowbridge Food Collective, which is a weekly online Farmers Market, selling many of the same produce that is available on the market. The difference is you pre order on line and then the orders are boxed and customers come and collect in a drive through on Thursday evening. It has proved an invaluable way for people to access great local produce safely during the Covid pandemic. It is great to see the Farmers Market and the Food Collective working so well together with producers being part of both and many customers crossing back and for between the two.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗛𝗼𝘄/𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. I started making birthday cakes for my children when they were young, and although I had my fair share of disasters, people started asking me to make celebration cakes for them. I attended Neath & Port Talbot College one day a week for several years doing various forms of sugar craft before finally giving up my office managers job in a local print company to make cakes full time. The business moved slightly to making cakes for several local tea rooms and also selling cakes on the farmers’ market & the food collective. I am getting a little too old and impatient to do the very elaborate celebration cakes now, and have becoming very good at saying no!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Early start, walk the dogs, baking, cooking, emails, organising, early to bed!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Do you make them yourself and which is the nicest! – yes I do and saying which is the nicest is like choosing a favourite child!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯? Feeding people! I love cooking and I love being part of the Farmers Market, we are a real community with the other producers and also our lovely loyal customers. Without the weekly Farmers Market I think this last year in lock down would have been much more difficult.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: I am a beef and sheep farmers daughter from the Vale and moved 8 miles to another beef and sheep farm when I got married! We have 3 children our eldest son James is a wheat breeder and lives in Adelaide, Australia. Christopher (Did) lives and works on the farm with his family and our daughter Josie is a solicitor specialising in agricultural matters living in Cardiff with her husband and two daughters. I am passionate about local food, supporting small artisan producers and showing people what great produce is available in the local area.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? Walking, either with my dogs or with friends, and reading a good book. My idea of a great day out is visiting other farmers market anywhere in the UK or the world, seeing and tasting the produce and picking up tips as to how everyone else does it. We have visited some amazing markets in both Australia and New Zealand when visiting our son.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? I used to work on the sales desk at an abrasive company selling specialist grinding wheels and cutting discs - A bit different to food!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱? Best seller: Would be a toss-up between my carrot cake and my cherry bakewell. Most under rated – Sticky Ginger
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻? Being able to visit our eldest son in Australia.

Meet the Producers #10
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Melanie Constantinou
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Baked by Mel
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
Bara brith, brownies, blondies, rocky road, biscotti and gin & tonic loaves
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I’m a newbie!! Come and say hello!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? I used to be a teacher before I had children but just couldn’t see a way to go back to it with two small ones. I started home baking when they were little to fit in with our family life. At the time I was single and it was something I could do without leaving the house.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Drinking tea, prepping, baking, wrapping, posting out bara brith, a HIIT class with Force Gym and getting the dinner on. I live in the kitchen most days!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
“Are you the one that had your cake in Harrods?” … it was Fortnums, but close!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
I’ve had a couple of special elderly customers that have been so pleased to have bara brith sent to them because it has brought back fond memories of their childhood and family. It’s the loveliest thing, to be a part of that.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
I live in Llantwit with my partner and our sons and I do all my baking in the family home. My nan was born in Swansea but my mum, my sisters and I were born in east London. My dad is from Cyprus, the most generous soul you could ever hope to meet.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? Nordic noir, a log fire, cuppa tea and a curly wurly… oooh yes please!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I spent the first half of my 30’s hanging out with Bedouin in South Sinai…and I know ALL the words to Rappers Delight, and finally (because I don’t like even numbers) I hate the colour orange but love the Autumn. I confess, I had to phone a friend to answer this question!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Best seller is a close call between bara brith and brownies. Under rated product is cupcakes… everyone thinks they’ve had their day, overblown,
​show-offy, indulgent little divas of the cake world, but when you turn up with a batch they soon disappear quick enough!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Going out-out, dancing, drinking, kebab!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲? See above!!

Meet the Producers #9
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Steffan James & Mark Wallace
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Little Goat Brewery
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? We sell a range of beer that we produce in our brewery in Steff's shed in Pontardawe
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? We're quite new at the market, we've been attending since February and attend every other week.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? We are a father and son-in-law team with a serious love of real ale. Mark has got more than 40 years home brewing experience and Steff is a keen apprentice (and beer-drinker!) so when Steff moved into a new house with an sizeable outbuilding in the garden it seemed obvious that we should open a brewery!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? We both have day jobs - Mark is a pharmacist and Steff is a civil servant but when we're not doing this you'll find us brewing, bottling, labelling and occasionally sampling our beer. We do every part of the process ourselves.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂? We are often asked why we're called Little Goat. We actually named the brewery after Steff's daughter (Mark's granddaughter) who was around 6 months old when we first set up the brewery and at the time she used to make a little bleating noise, much like a little goat would!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯? Definitely attending markets and sales where we get a chance to meet our customers and talk to people about our beer!
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Mark is a father of 4 and a grandfather to 3. Steff is married to one of Mark's daughters and has a 4 year old daughter of his own and a second baby due in June.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? With a pint of Little Goat of course!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
We once filmed as part of a documentary with Gareth Edwards and his wife for the BBC. We didn't make the final cut but it was a great experience!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Our best selling is Golden Goat our golden ale. Our most underrated is Satan's Little Helper our 6.66% stout.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻? Beer gardens.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? We got a few new recipes we are developing at the moment to release throughout the year to add to the range.

Meet the Producers #8
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Natalie Hepburn
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Garlic Meadow
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? We attend the farmers market as part of the Glamorgan Smallholders stall, we sell products from our local smallholding. These products include goats milk soap, moisturiser, wool, sheepskin and goatskin rugs, knitted items and raw fleeces.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? About a year
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
We started our smallholding 10 years ago with the 2 acres of land and 2 sheep and a few chickens just really as a hobby. Over the years it has grown to cover about 15 acres and is now home to chickens, ducks, around 40 sheep, 5 goats, 2 alpacas and 2 horses. The business started to cover some of the costs involved in running the smallholding and began selling eggs and lamb boxes as well as sheep for breeding, it evolved to sell wool and then finally, with the addition of goats, to sell the goat related products.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
Outside of lockdown my day starts around 6am with paperwork or working on making products. After I have taken the children to school, I go around and see to the animals. The smallholding is spread over a number of sites to the north and west of Cardiff. I feed, change bedding, check water and check on health. I may need to do extra jobs such as move the sheep to fresh grazing, feet trim, worm etc etc.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
Where is our farm? A question difficult to answer because we are spread over a number of sites
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
Being outside and looking after the animals but also the creativity in designing new products.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
James is Cardiff born and bred, I was born in Kent and came to Wales for University. Neither of us are from farming backgrounds. James is an engineer and still works fulltime for network rail, I worked in biochemistry before focusing on farming and family.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? Sleep!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? I have a PhD in biochemistry which has proved very useful making the soap.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Definitely the soap, difficult to say which type is best-selling
Under-rated the sheepskin rugs, the are a premium, top-end product and the price tag puts people off, However, these sheep were born in Wales and the skins organically tanned in Wales. I like to say that the whole process is done in less miles than the sheep walked in their lives. Most rugs available in the shops have been chemically tanned in China and shipped across the world.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Getting back to normality. Juggling school work with farming and the business has proved extremely challenging. I definitely have a few more grey hairs.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
We have just released our new range of moisturisers and have a number of other product ideas!
 

Meet the Producers #7
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Alex Simmens
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Llanblethian Orchards
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Traditionally made ciders and perries from rare and historic Welsh and English fruit varieties grown in my unsprayed orchard in Llanblethian. I sell traditional still ciders and perries in bag in a box. Modern bottled craft cider and perries. Premium naturally conditioned pétillant naturel and keeved products in champagne bottles. I also sell traditionally made live vinegar containing the mother.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I joined Spring 2020
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗛𝗼𝘄/𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 I went to Cardiff university in the 90’s and did a degree in biotechnology with modules in microbiology, fermentation etc. I ended up running a cider bar at a student festival for charity and got the bug from visiting old cider farms in Monmouth and Ross on Wye to buy cider for the event. I planted my orchard on the families’ land in 2006 and it all went from there.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
It varies depending upon season. My time is split between maintaining the orchard in Llanblethian, working on the cider at my barn, doing deliveries and the office work. In Spring, I split my time between finishing the winter orchard work and getting all the cider bottled ready for late spring which is the busiest sale time of the year. Summer it is all guns blazing selling cider and doing deliveries (and shows and events when they were allowed). Autumn is selling the last of the years cider and pressing the harvest. Winter most of my time is taken up with maintenance in the orchard, weather permitting and updating artwork banners etc ready for the next season.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
What is Keeved cider? Keeving is French cider making process and it is how all the sweet low alcohol corked bottles of cider you buy in northern France are made. Essentially very ripe late season cider apples from old unsprayed orchards are pressed and the milled fruit is left over night. The next morning the pulp is pressed and the resultant juice has calcium chloride salt added to it. The day after an enzyme (that does naturally occur in the fruit) may be added called pectin methyl esterase (PME). The enzyme reacts with the pectin from the very ripe fruit and the calcium and forms a gel mass that traps the yeast and nutrients in the cider. After a week or so it raises to the surface as a thick crust called the chapeau brun (brown hat) or flying lees in the English tradition. The clear juice below this is racked off and fermented. This juice is low nutrient and stops fermentation early giving a naturally sweet cider.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
The smile on a customer’s face when they try a cider they really like
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
My parents run an electronics manufacturing business called Ctronix Ltd. I grew up above there and used to solder up circuit boards for pocket money. Years ago the circuit boards used to be signed by whoever soldered them up. I imagine there may be a few systems out there with my signature on!
After my degree I ended up retraining in software engineering and spent 15 years writing software for them. During the last recession I decided to do cider full time and devote my time to Llanblethian Orchards.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅?
On the rare days off, bit of a lie in, drink lots of tea and cook a nice meal in truth. I am usually too tired to do much else!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I have been an active CAMRA (campaign for real ale) member since my early 20’s. I have been involved in running beer and cider festivals for decades. It’s a lot of work but setting up festivals is great fun and you make lots of friends all over the country. I can’t wait to see them all again
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴? Breakwell’s seedling sweet craft cider. It is a wonderful old Monmouthshire cider apple variety. It has incredible amounts of apple aroma. You can literally smell the apples as you walk past the tree! It makes a wonderful fruity single variety cider. As it has a low sugar content it also ends up quite low alcohol as well.
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱: I would say traditional dry cider. But dry cider has always been a hard sell in Wales. The old English cider boys always used to say when cider was sold over the border you would add a bag of sugar as the Welsh have a sweet tooth!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Jumping on a train and going to visit friends over the border for a pint. So many people I have not seen in over a year now.

Meet the producers #6
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Richard Edwards
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Pwllywrach Farm
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Angus Beef and Welsh Lamb
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I attended the second ever market held in Barry in the summer of 2001 and I attend every week. 
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
My mother and father came to Twmpath Farm, Colwinston in 1954 straight after they were married. It was then a 100 acre dairy farm. I left school and joined them in 1972 when several small farms became vacant on the Pwllywrach Estate and Pwllywrach Farm was born, incorporating Twmpath and several other farms. At that time a new farmyard and house was built and we moved from dairy into beef and sheep. My son Christopher (Did) left school and joined me in 1996 and the farm has continued to develop and grow. Although still in school my teenage grandchildren Morgan and Harriet are already an integral part of the farm, one tractor driver and one stockman!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? My day usually starts about 6 am and every day is different but involves caring for the sheep and cattle. We are just starting lambing now, then the cows start calving in May, then silage, hay and so the year goes on.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Where is your farm and is this your own beef? I can tell them it most definitely is and I can tell them who its mother is, who its father is and which field it was born in!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯? I consider it not a job but a way of life and my biggest joy is the livestock and seeing them healthy and happy.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: My wife Myfanwy, is a beef and sheep farmers daughter from the Vale and is a familiar face at the farmers market. We have 3 children our eldest son James is a wheat breeder and lives in Adelaide, Australia. Did lives and works on the farm with his family and our daughter Josie is a solicitor specialising in agricultural matters living in Cardiff with her husband and two daughters.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? Watching horse racing, but mostly just sleeping in my armchair!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱? Best seller is our minced beef – so versatile and the most under rated is rump steak – a great value for money steak that is equally as good as the more expensive cuts.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻? Life here on the farm has continued as normal during lock down as the animals need to be cared for whatever. Looking forward to being able to visit my son in Australia again.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲? Just having enough energy to keep in front of my son and grandchildren!

​Meet the Producers #5
Our 5th producer to introduce you to is Shane from Harrison Teas. Shane attends the market every other week, and you won't be able to miss him as he always wears a top hat. (Why can't I find a phot of him in his top hat?) He is extremely knowledgeable about all things tea and can talk tea at great length!
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Shane Harrison
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Harrison Teas
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? As It says on the tin - Loose leaf tea from around the world plus blended teas made by me
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?
I have been a member of the market for 1 year and attend every other week.
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
A love of teas and the wish to give customer the best at great prices. I have an excellent range of over 70 high class teas, and I am always looking to find those teas that the experts are hiding away! My stock can change daily but rest assured I will always try to find the best teas possible, if you are looking for any tea so long as it is not branded I will do my best to find it for you. I do my best to source our tea through established relationships, individual plantations, co-ops and long standing partners. The environment and sustainability is of paramount importance and we are committed to providing as wide a range of tea as is possible, stocking teas from all tea growing regions of the world. Quality is our watch word and aim to find the best quality teas possible at a fair price for both the consumer and grower.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
Fulfilling orders on the web site, blending teas, and working the markets
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I am always asked are these spices? or are they all teas?
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅?
I like to go sea fishing.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Breakfast tea blends are my most popular and green tea the most under rated
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
Going fishing in West Wales
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?
To start selling wholesale

​Meet the producers #4
Our fourth producer to introduce you to is one of our newbies Caitlin Beer
𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Pimp My Porridge
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? I sell flavoured Overnight Oat pots and bags of Granola.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Just a few weeks but I now attend every other week. 
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? Pimp My Porridge began as an Instagram account during lockdown. I posted pictures of ‘pimped up porridges’ which quickly gained a good following. The interest in my porridges pushed me to turn it into a small business which is still very much just getting started!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? I run Pimp My Porridge alongside working part time in a deli. So a typical day for me may involve a full day of baking granola, booking markets and doing admin or working in a deli preparing and delivering food.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
I most enjoy seeing people enjoy the things I have made. I get a rush of excitement every time anyone purchases anything!
𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱/𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆:
I was born and raised in Penarth, living with my parents and younger sister. I have recently graduated from Brunel University and am now back in Penarth after four years of living in London.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅? My favourite way to relax is a good long walk or a run!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
I spent a month trekking through mountains in China when I was 17.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱? My best selling product is the Peanut Butter Overnight Oat pot! I think the vanilla overnight pot is most underrated.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻?
I can’t wait to see my friends and travel again once lockdown is over!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲? I have no set plans but I am very excited to see where my business goes in the future!