Due to customer demand, Parsons are pleased to launch a new online Welsh Food Hamper, celebrating all that is great about traditional Welsh foods.

Presented in a traditional wicker basket, the exclusive Parsons Welsh Food Hamper will include one each of the following goods:

• 450g Traditional Sweet Onions
• 450g Traditional Eggs
• 450g Traditional Baby Beetroot
• 450g Traditional Sliced Beetroot
• 450g Traditional Sweet Pickle
• 120g Laverbread
• 280g Pickled Cockles
• 280g Pickled Mussels

Parsons Welsh Food Hamper is available to buy online and is priced at £18.00 plus postage of £8.23 with delivery to mainland UK only.

In this show, Si King & Dave Myers explore Carmarthenshire where they cook a traditional county favourite in the National Botanic Garden of Wales. They go cockling at Laugharne and source cheese from a happy herd of goats. Finally, they face the challenge of a cook-off against top chefs, Sue Manson & Maryann Wright. Restaurant diners decide who has created the best taste of Carmarthenshire.

Find out more at hairybikers.com

Parson Pickles played host to the BBC’s Hairy Bikers at Laugharne in Carmarthenshire as the two motorbike riding food enthusiasts got down and dirty to pick some of award winning cockles and learned all about Laverbread.

Colin Macdonald spent most of the afternoon with Dave and Si as they collected the cockles themselves with the help of a cockle gatherer.  They were then shown how raw seaweed is used to create Laverbread.

Colin commented:  “Laugharne is where the business started and it was great to get back to the beach and explain to Si and Dave all about the history of Parsons Pickles.  It was also great fun and a tremendous chance to discuss the sustainability of the cockle industry as well as educate them about what a fantastic and healthy food Laverbread actually is.”

The next Hairy Biker series is scheduled for September and will feature the boys enjoying Welsh cockles, Laverbread and their mobile kitchen cook-ups in Carmarthen and Chepstow.  Find out more at http://www.hairybikers.com

“Ensuring that we are conserving shellfish supplies is vitally important for all our futures.”
Colin MacDonald

Leslie A Parsons & Sons Ltd won the Contribution to Sustainable Development (C2SD) award at this year’s True Taste Awards.

True Taste Wales Food and Drink Awards launched a ‘Contribution to sustainable development’ (C2SD) award in 2007. Recognising the challenges faced by industry the True Taste commissioned Ecodesign Centre Wales to develop this first-of-a-kind award.

Leslie A Parsons & Sons Ltd produce a range of pickled and canned shellfish, laverbread and traditional pickles. The company has been established in Wales for nearly 60 years and are the only British manufacturer of cockles and mussels in vinegar.

Parsons Pickles have been recognised because they have demonstrated the role that they can play in shellfish conservation and the long-term sustainability of the cockle beds. Ensuring that they, and others, do not over-harvest the beds is critical to the company.

They work closely with the South Wales Sea Fish Committee , Carmarthen Council, CCW and all relevant authorities to protect the cockle beds of South and North Wales.

The Burry Inlet has the only cockle beds in the world with the seal of approval from the Marine Conservation Society, which recognises the need for sustainable harvesting.

The company is securing customers throughout the UK through deli, local food shops and a range of supermarkets.

Their plans for the future include a major investment in design and brand development and continuing to work collaboratively to protect more of Welsh cockle beds. These activities ensure continuity of supply coupled with sustaining their own business interests and the environment.

http://www.edcw.org/news/news-archive/true-taste-winner/