All set for Denbigh Plum Feast

Peter Jones, chairman of the Denbigh Plum Group, said: "We are fortunate to receive financial support from Welsh Government through the Food Festivals Recovery Fund this year.

"We have a fabulous selection of local companies who will be selling their unique produce on the day.

"Any product made from Denbigh Plums tend to sell out on the day.

"We look forward to welcoming everyone to Denbigh Town Hall on Saturday, October 1."

READ MORE: Dr James Davies has championed the Denbigh Plum in Parliament

There will be a full timetable on the day.

Rob Dowell-Brown, from Nant y Felin Restaurant, in Llanrhaeadr, will be running two sessions on foraging, while Geoff Miller, of Cegin Caribi in Holyhead, will be demonstrating his Jamaican cooking style using locally produced meat and a sauce using Denbigh Plums.

On the day, Slow Food Cymru Wales will host an event entitled ‘Tastes of this place - what is in store?’

Slow Food Cymru Wales continues the debate started during lockdown regarding the theme of ‘Milltir Sgwar’ - the square mile - and how the increased desire for local, regional, seasonal food has fared in the post lockdown era.

A panel will discuss how the cost of living will crisis impact upon local food and whether the local interest was more of a passing phase.

Running from 2pm, it will be chaired by Ian Rasmussen.

The panel will include Professor Bryce Evans (Liverpool Hope University); Cllr Rhys Thomas (Gwyn Parry Denbigh Foodbank); goat farmer Sam Kenyon; educator Jane Powell and Marguerite Pearce (Y Tŷ Gwyrdd, Denbigh).

A previous Denbigh Plum Feast (Image: Staff photographer)

Also on offer during Denbigh Plum Feast, a cookery competition for younger primary school pupils has been organised with the Denbighshire Urdd and Cynefin community group.

Since gaining PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status for the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum in 2019, interest in Wales' only native plum has rocketed among growers and food and drink producers.

The number of Denbigh Plum trees in the Vale of Clwyd had declined since the 1950s due to increased agricultural demand for land.

A group of Denbigh business owners launched a campaign to raise the awareness of this particular plum and started a new food and drink festival in Denbigh in 2009.

Since the early days, more and more old trees have been identified and the group has worked closely with micro food and drink companies throughout North East Wales.

This one-day food and drink event aims to attract micro food producers and encourages them to produce items that are sold on the day of the Denbigh Plum Feast.