News
Early potatoes get European protection
THE famous Pembrokeshire Early Potato has joined the ranks of Champagne, Parma Ham and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies by being awarded protected food name status by the European Commission.
From this week the Pembrokeshire Earlies/ Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes names are protected by the European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, which is one of three special European Protected Food Name (PFN) designations. Under the EU’s protected food name scheme certain food and drink products receive Europe-wide legal protection against imitation and misuse.
The application for PGI status was made to the European Commission by DEFRA on behalf of Haverfordwest based majority farmer-owned company Puffin Produce Ltd. Achieving PGI status is a long and complicated procedure, and Puffin has been helped through the process by the Welsh Government.
Through its ‘Blas Y Tir’ (Taste of the Land) brand, the company has been spearheading the campaign to re-invigorate the place of the Pembrokeshire Early Potato on the plates of Wales and further afield. Earlier this year as part of the campaign the Pembrokeshire Earlies ‘starred’ in a television advertisement – the first television advert for a Welsh vegetable brand.
Pembrokeshire Earlies have been grown in the county’s fertile red sandstone soil since the mid-1700s and it is one of the county’s most treasured products.
“Preparing the seed and soil then planting, nurturing and harvesting these special potatoes is both a science and an art,” said Puffin’s field manager, Stephen Mathias.
“The growers have an innate knowledge of the local growing conditions and many skills have been passed down from one generation to the next.
“The potatoes are often handpicked especially earlier in the harvest season. Maris Peer and Lady Christl varieties – among others – are ideal for the Pembrokeshire soil, climate and production methods. The result is a tiny (15-70mm diameter) bright white potato, creamy in texture and so fine-skinned that the first crop harvested in May in its purest earth covered form, to keep its delicate skin intact.”
These first of the season Pembrokeshire Earlies have a distinctive nutty flavour and aroma.
“The Pembrokeshire Early potato is one of the best products in Wales,” said Puffin’s managing director, Huw Thomas.
“Achieving PGI status has been a long and rigorous process, but we’re absolutely delighted with the outcome and we can’t wait until next year’s Pembrokeshire Earlies to celebrate in style.”
“Consumers can now be absolutely sure that when they buy Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes they are getting a product which has been grown, picked, and packed in Pembrokeshire.
“This is tremendous news for Wales, Pembrokeshire and our growers who put their heart and soul into producing the best potatoes and vegetables you’ll find anywhere in the world.”
The PGI designation puts Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes on a par with Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, which also received protection under European law. Added Huw Thomas,
“You could say we are now three quarters of the way to having a full PGI dinner from Wales!”
Alun Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food, congratulated Puffin Produce saying:
“Gaining protected food name status is a fantastic achievement and is the recognition our delicious Pembrokeshire Earlies deserve.
“This excellent news yet again demonstrates some of the world class food Wales has to offer.”
Pembrokeshire Earlies grower, Walter Simon welcomed the PGI news saying it “recognises the quality of the product and the hard work and dedication of growers in Pembrokeshire and it is great that horticulture in West Wales is being recognised in this way.”
He added, “The discerning publicwill recognise the PGI logo from other great products around Europe which have a special connection to their locality – such as Welsh Lamb which has a reputation world-wide.”
Pembrokeshire County Council Food Development Manager, Kate Morgan said,
“Pembrokeshire Earlies have a proud history in this part of Wales and we are delighted that ‘one of our own’ food products has been recognised by Europe in this way.”
Said Caroline Evans of the Potato Council, “Shoppers continue to be interested in provenance and it presents opportunities to build interest and excitement in the potato category. It is good to see Pembrokeshire growers investing in their identity and being recognised with PGI status.”
Entertainment
Superstars of Welsh Wrestling coming to the Torch Theatre
A HIGH-ENERGY family wrestling show is set to bring thrills, spills and plenty of crowd-pleasing action to Milford Haven next month.
From Trecco Bay to Baglan, and from Cwmbran to Milford Haven, the Superstars of Welsh Wrestling are back on the road and preparing to rumble once again.
The popular live entertainment show will arrive at the Torch Theatre for a one-night extravaganza on Sunday, May 17, promising body slams, larger-than-life characters and fast-paced action for all ages.
Since being established in 2005, Welsh Wrestling has built a reputation as the leading wrestling promotion in Wales, staging shows in theatres and venues across the country. Each year, the company performs in front of thousands of fans, offering an action-packed night out aimed at families and wrestling supporters alike.
Audience members can expect an afternoon of glamour, chaos and athletic spectacle, with organisers promising a memorable experience that will have children and adults alike cheering on their favourite stars.
Welsh Wrestling has received glowing praise from fans on its Facebook page, with one audience member saying: “What a fantastic night. My two grandsons loved every minute of the show. A great show designed with families in mind. I will highly recommend this to all friends and family. Thanks for a great evening!”
The Superstars of Welsh Wrestling will appear live at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00pm.
Tickets cost £15 for adults and £12 for children. For bookings, call the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.
Crime
Keeston driver to face trial over A40 driving allegation
Twenty-year-old admits tyre offences but denies driving without due care and attention
A TWENTY-year-old man from Keeston is due to stand trial in Haverfordwest after appearing before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged in connection with alleged driving offences on the A40 near Haverfordwest.
Thomas Hayes, of Keeston, appeared before magistrates on Wednesday (Apr 22) in relation to three offences said to have taken place between late on December 26 and the early hours of December 27, 2025.
The court heard Hayes is accused of driving a Volkswagen car on the A40 between Haverfordwest and Johnston without due care and attention.
According to the prosecution summary, police officers first saw the car at around 10:00pm and believed it was travelling above the speed limit. Officers later reported seeing the same vehicle again and said they were unable to catch up because of its speed.
It is further alleged that at around 1:00am officers saw the vehicle on Freemens Way, Haverfordwest, negotiating a sharp bend at speed and crossing solid white lines onto the opposite side of the road. Police later traced the car after checks through the operations room and located it at a filling station in Johnston at around 1:35am.
Hayes denied the allegation of driving without due care and attention.
He did, however, plead guilty to two separate vehicle defect offences. These were using a vehicle with an incorrectly inflated rear nearside tyre, and using a vehicle with a front nearside tyre said to have had a lump, bulge or tear caused by structural failure.
The case was adjourned for trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 10 at 10:00am. The hearing is expected to last two hours.
Health
St John Ambulance Cymru sets sights on a more ‘mentally healthy Wales’
ST JOHN AMBULANCE CYMRU has unveiled a range of new courses to help transform the nation’s wellbeing and create a ‘mentally healthy Wales,’ to combat a crisis that currently costs the UK economy millions of lost workdays.
The first aid charity for Wales, which trains hundreds of people in Mental Health First Aid each year, is calling on businesses to integrate it into the core of their operations, treating it with the same lifesaving urgency as physical first aid.
In a recent interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John, the charity’s Lead Trainer, Belinda James, highlighted the staggering economic and human cost of the current mental health crisis and noted that approximately 17 to 18 million workdays are lost annually due to mental health struggles.
James said the statistics, published by the Health and Safety Executive, were “surprising and upsetting.”
She added: “You think for all of those statistics, for all of those numbers, there’s a person, there are people at the heart of that, who are at home not able to work because they are struggling.”
While physical injuries are often visible, mental health challenges frequently manifest in subtle behavioural shifts. James emphasised that “knowing your colleagues well” is the first line of defence in identifying when someone is in distress.
“If it’s normal for me to be quite chirpy, to be early, to be on the ball first thing in the morning… and then I come in, and I look bedraggled, and I look stressed, and I’m snappy… that would be a good time to just say, is everything all right?”
She noted that other “hidden signs” include withdrawal, changes in eating or sleeping habits, and increased substance use, such as stepping out for more frequent cigarette breaks.
The push for better training comes as society navigates a generational divide in how mental health is discussed. James noted that workplaces are currently “caught in the mix” of the “make do and mend” generation and the younger “snowflake” generation.
“We live in a society that’s like, ‘Oh God, no, don’t address that. Don’t talk about the hard stuff. Chin up,” James observed.
However, she argued that directness is often what saves lives. “It is so much more validating to hear somebody say to you, ‘You are going through a really tough time at the moment. I’m so sorry. That must be very difficult to handle.”
As the UK faces gaps in mental health service provision, many individuals are turning to Artificial Intelligence for support – a trend James views with caution. While AI can be a “fantastic tool for signposting,” she warns that it lacks the essential component of empathy.
“It cannot understand human emotion. It won’t pick up on a human emotion,” she said. “The last thing that we want is for them to be led astray by an AI language program that cannot understand the depths of human emotion”.
St John Ambulance Cymru provides Mental Health First Aid Wales-certified training designed to give people the skills to recognise signs of mental ill-health and provide initial support until professional help is received.
These courses are evidence-based and cover critical topics, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and crises such as suicidal thoughts and panic attacks.
The curriculum includes:
- Mental Health First Aid (2 Days): The flagship 12-hour course teaching adults how to support friends, family, and co-workers. Participants learn the “Mental Health Action Plan” and gain the confidence to intervene in crises like non-suicidal self-injury or traumatic events.
- Mental Health Advocate (1 Day): A course for those looking to proactively champion wellbeing and reduce stigma in their organization.
- Mental Health Awareness (1/2 Day): A foundational session to build empathy and understanding of what mental health is.
- Mental Health for Managers: Specifically designed to help leadership recognise indicators of stress and manage the unique pressures of supporting a team.
For more information on Mental Health First Aid training or to book a course, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/courses/MHFA
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