Monmouthshire Food Partnership (MFP) has given ten community-led projects small grants of £200 each to start or enhance food-growing activities. The scheme was inspired by the Soil Association’s long-running Food For Life Get Togethers programme, in particular Plant & Share month: ‘a campaign to get the nation growing and sharing produce with their community, school, family or friends’.

The Cook & Share concept is simple: people come together to cook a meal, and then enjoy eating it. On 2 March 2023, Monmouthshire Food Partnership hosted a Cook & Share in Abergavenny as a way for our Steering Group to get to know one another better, to meet people from the local community, and to support local food and drink businesses. We had the best day!

Monmouthshire Food Partnership is inviting applications from third-sector organisations and community groups that are contributing to Monmouthshire’s good food movement.

On March 30 2023, Monmouthshire Food Partnership hosted a meet the buyer event at the Three Salmons hotel in Usk. Producers and buyers from around the county were invited to attend this first trade event with the objective of encouraging the sale of more local products in Monmouthshire’s restaurants, cafes and shops.

Schools across Monmouthshire are having regular video calls with local food producers to help pupils learn what happens in the fields and sheds around them, and where their food comes from.

In May 2023 Monmouthshire Food Partnership held three community growing events across the county, in Chepstow, Usk and Monmouth. The aim was to connect and inspire communities to develop circular economies, shared growing spaces, and reduce food and green waste.