Martin Buck from Glaisfer Uchaf Farm, near Bwlch is one of a handful of farmers who traditionally grazes his sheep on the foothills of the Brecon Beacons.  On Saturday 4th October at the Brecon Beacons Food Festival he will be able to tell you the best way to eat his home-reared Welsh mountain lamb.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Brecon Beacons Food Festival - an annual event showing off local food and suppliers in the landscape where it is produced.

Local farming traditions and committed local food producers ensure our food has a unique flavour, from Brecknock lamb to porcini, Welsh black beef to whiskey made from pure Welsh water. It's not surprising to see why the Brecon Beacons Food Festival goes from strength to strength, when eating local is one of our favourite pastimes.

Since its early beginnings in 1997, this popular Food Festival has become an iconic event in the Brecon Beacons National Park - a place where visitors can come and experience an extraordinary range of exotic local produce that is not only Welsh but is evolving as a dominant regional cuisine.

This year the Food Festival will incorporate traditional features such as celebrity chef cooking demonstrations from S4C's Dudley Newberry, coupled with an expansion of stalls throughout the picturesque market town of Brecon.  A huge line up of food entertainment with ITV's Ruth Wignal facing a cook off with BBC's Derek Brockway and local high schools, Gwernyfed and Brecon competing in Ready, Steady Cook! 

A record number of local food producers and suppliers have signed up to be part of the growing success of the Festival.  "Currently 80 Welsh food producers have signed on, which is a massive increase for the same period last year.  There has also been a substantial increase in interest from other locally based suppliers. The growth over the last 11 years provides a strong indication of the success the Brecon Beacons Food Festival brings to exhibitors taking part." says Food Festival organiser and Catering Manager for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Andrew Powell.

"Thanks to the continued support of our local farmers and food producers - who are putting an incredible amount of thought and effort into how they produce their food - residents and visitors to the Brecon Beacons National Park are making informed decisions on locally produced food which we hope will encourage others to challenge the impact food mileage has on our environment.

"There are lots of reasons to buy local wherever possible - not only will it teach your children that their food ultimately comes from farms and local producers in the Park not factories and supermarkets, but it is more likely to be fresher and healthier - providing a welcome boost to the local economy."

10.05am       Official opening
Mrs Elin Jones AM, Minister for Welsh Rural Affairs

10.30am       S4C Broadcast with Celebrity Chef Dudley Newberry

11.30am       Houses of Parliament vs Welsh Assembly cook off
Featuring Roger Williams MP and Kirsty Williams AM - supported by the Head Chefs from the George Hotel, Brecon and Peterstone Court, Llanhamlach.

12.00pm       Visit by the Rt Honorable Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales

12.15pm       Aberhonddu Male Choir

12.30pm       ITV vs BBC cook off
Celebrity Chef cook off featuring Ruth Wignal and Derek Brockway

1.30pm          Head Chef from Pen y Cae Inn, Abercrave vs Head Chef The Crown at Whitebrook Monmouth

2.30pm          ‘Be a Celebrity Chef for a Day' winner

3.30pm          Gwernyfed High School vs Brecon High School cook off with Peter James MBE from Drovers Tearooms Restaurant, Llanwrtyd Wells

5.00pm          Festival closes