The “It starts with Food” pilot program, a seven-month initiative dedicated to improving access to local, nutritious food for low-income families in Powys, has concluded.

The pilot successfully raised awareness of local veg growers and distributed a total of 903 veg bags to families with children aged 5 and under in the Flying Start areas of Brecon and Newtown.

Running from September 2025 to March 2026 with a budget of £22,500, the program was led by Bwyd Powys Food (hosted by Cultivate) in partnership with the Powys County Council Health Protection Team, Powys Teaching Health Board, nursery settings and growers at Wern Farm and Alfie Dan’s Market Garden. The project was funded by the Welsh Government with the primary goal to offer weekly subsidised veg bags, monthly cooking classes and shared meals. Families who purchased the subsidised bags appreciated the quality, and seven out of nine post-pilot survey respondents indicated they would continue purchasing a local veg box after the pilot ended.

In total, 297 subsidised veg boxes were sold across both locations and 606 veg boxes were given out for free. In addition, a video recipe bank has been created for wider sharing to support more home cooking.

Chloe Masefield is the Bwyd Powys Food Coordinator for South Powys. She said: “This project was run on an incredibly tight budget and wouldn't have been possible without the partnership working of all this 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.”

The partners strongly recommend that any future projects be long term to build trust and confidence within the community. To stay informed on Bwyd Powys Food activities, sign up to the Powys Food Charter.