The phrase ‘farm to fork’ can be heard all throughout the year now, whether you’re in the local pub or visiting one of Wales’ famous Michelin starred restaurants it’s a point of pride that Welsh farmers can produce the award-winning food enjoyed by so many.

No truer is this than at Christmas time when the main event is made up almost entirely of food we can farm and grow here in Wales.

Carrots, parsnips, and even the Christmas turkey itself can all be obtained by local British farmers. Readers can even enjoy some British-grown Brussels sprouts, whilst those who aren’t as keen can use as much Welsh butter and bacon as needed to disguise its true taste if you are so inclined. For the rest of the house, farmers in Wales have been growing Christmas trees and offering home-grown wreath-making courses for decades now whilst rural communities are often those preserving our traditions the most at this time of year. For instance, rural Wales is credited with popularising drinking hot mulled cider in the Winter -originally as a way of wishing for a good harvest in the next year but now a useful diversification for those benefiting from this year’s bumper crop.

Away from the farming leading up to Christmas Day itself, ‘tractor runs’ are a familiar site for many across Wales. Each year hundreds of agricultural machines decorated with tinsel, massive signs and vast amounts of Christmas lights file through Wales’ towns and villages. These events aren’t just an annual celebration but are another opportunity for members of the community to raise awareness and money for a variety of charities. This year, farming families and friends raised money for a host of causes including local air ambulance centres, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s charities and mental health services all supported by those braving the weather to cheer on the parades of tractors.

It's easy at Christmas time to get wrapped up in great food and drink without perhaps pausing to appreciate the story behind your pigs in blankets and roast potatoes. So, this Christmas take a moment to consider the story behind your dinner and perhaps those who have helped get it onto your plate. Or, at the very least, enjoy a nice mulled cider and wish for a successful harvest in 2026.