Slow Food Cymru Wales Awards Winners 2024

Created eleven years ago, the Slow Food Awards winners are nominated by the public. Each winner is a champion of good, clean and fair food and represents the very best of their craft.

In addition to the public vote, each national director chooses their Person of the Year, someone who embodies Slow Food values.

 

Retailer of the Year                                     Cardiff Farmers Market, Cardiff
Producer of the Year                                   Pauls Organic Veg, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Cook of the Year                                           Mark McHugo, Chapters, Hay on Wye, Powys
Newcomer (under two years)  Award       Grangetown Kitchen Garden, Cardiff               
Environment & Biodiversity Award          Chapters, Hay on Wye, Powys           
Food Product of the Year                           Halen Mon Sea Salt, Anglesey 
Drink Product of the Year                          Dr Beaky’s Gin, Hay on Wye, Powys

Person of the Year: Jess Lea-Wilson (Pictured above)

Jess Lea-Wilson is an ambassador for Slow Food within Wales for a number of reasons. She is involved with Taste Education a charity aiming to revolutionise the way Food Education is taught in the UK, so that taste education becomes a basic aspect of every child’s knowledge. Just as children are taught how to read and write, they need to learn the ‘food literacy’ that will help them become more confident, adventurous and healthy eaters. She was part of the group which during Covid created a virtual pub, “The Covid Arms” which raised more than £150,000 for artists and The Trussell Trust.  She was part of the Welsh Government’s  Citizen’s Assembly on Food Security, and in addition her family business is the Slow Food supporting producer, Halen Mon.

Nominated by Debbie Handley, Director Slow Food Cymru Wales