Shop Local Produce in Mid Wales
Mid Wales has a food culture that runs on short supply chains. The lamb on your plate probably walked on the hills you can see from the window. The cheese might have been made five miles away. The honey came from hives on the mountainside above the town. Shopping locally here is not a lifestyle statement. It is just how things work.
Where can I buy local produce in Mid Wales?
Farm shops are scattered across the region, many attached to working farms. They sell their own meat, eggs, vegetables and dairy alongside products from neighbouring farms and small producers. In the towns, independent butchers, bakers and grocers stock local produce as standard. Brecon, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Lampeter all have good independent food shops.
Farmers markets run regularly in towns across the region. The Brecon Farmers Market (second Saturday of each month) is one of the largest. Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells all have regular markets. The Machynlleth Wednesday market has been running for over 700 years and still sells local produce alongside general goods.
What local products should I look for?
Welsh lamb and beef are the obvious ones, but look also for: locally made cheeses (there are several small-scale cheesemakers in Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia), craft beer and cider from the growing number of small breweries and orchards, honey from mountain apiaries, preserves and chutneys, Welsh cakes, and bara brith (a traditional fruit loaf).
Several vineyards, breweries and distilleries in the region offer tastings and tours. The gin and whisky producers in particular have grown quickly in recent years.
Can I get local produce delivered to my holiday accommodation?
Some farm shops and producers offer delivery to holiday lets within their area. A few provide welcome hampers that can be waiting for you when you arrive. Ask your accommodation host for local recommendations, as they usually know the best suppliers within a few miles.
Where to find local produce in Mid Wales
Farm shops are scattered across the region. Look for them on the roads between towns rather than in the centres. Roadside honesty boxes sell eggs, jams and seasonal fruit in summer. In Ceredigion, Teifi cheese and locally caught fish are the standout products. In Powys, Welsh lamb and beef from the hill farms around the Cambrian Mountains need no introduction. For brewery tours, artisan food producers and pick-your-own farms, see our local produce listings.
Plan a food and drink trip to Mid Wales and bring a cool bag for the journey home.