Healthy vegetable filled boxes handed to local families

More than 900 locally produced vegetable boxes were distributed to families in Newtown and Brecon as part of a pilot project to improve access to healthy food in some of Powys’ most deprived communities.

The seven-month “It Starts With Food” programme supported families with children aged five and under living in Flying Start areas of Newtown and Brecon between September 2025 and March 2026.

Led by Bwyd Powys Food, in partnership with Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, local nursery settings, and growers, the project provided subsidised weekly vegetable boxes, cooking sessions, and shared meals.

Figures released following the completion of the pilot show that 903 vegetable boxes were distributed, including 297 subsidised boxes that were purchased by families and 606 boxes provided free of charge.

The £22,500 scheme was funded by the Welsh Government and involved produce supplied by Wern Farm and Alfie Dan’s Market Garden.

Organisers say the project not only helped families access fresh vegetables but also supported local food producers through guaranteed sales.

Chloe Masefield, Bwyd Powys Food Coordinator for South Powys, said: “This project was run on an incredibly tight budget and wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership working of all those involved.

“We managed to support both our local farmers through guaranteed sales, and families with young children in two deprived areas of Powys to access local, fresh vegetables.

“The learnings from this pilot will inform future work and contribute to our delivery of the Powys Food Strategy.”

As part of the project, a bank of recipe videos was also created to encourage more home cooking and help families make the most of fresh produce.

Feedback from participants was positive, with families praising the quality of the vegetables. Of the nine people who responded to a post project survey, seven said they intended to continue buying a local vegetable box after the scheme ended.

Partners involved in the programme have recommended that future projects should run over a longer period to help build trust and confidence within communities.

Bwyd Powys Food is the county’s sustainable food partnership and is hosted by Cultivate. It works with a range of organisations including Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park to promote access to local, sustainable and healthy food across Powys.