"Nestling in the cradle of the Cardiganshire Bay Coastline, Ceredigion has long been renowned for a diverse and mouth-watering array of fine food production that draws from both the sea and the land.

The irresistible combination of stunning landscape and an abundance of fertile farming land drew from the cities an army of people who looked upon Ceredigion with an eye to the future. These people brought with them a philosophy for farming that had long been forgotten, and they set about planting and harvesting the land naturally, without the use of chemicals. Crop rotation was vigilantly monitored, as was the use of natural animal husbandry.

Founded by Patrick Holden, Nick Rebbeck and Peter Segger, this pioneering movement began in the mid seventies and Lampeter quickly became the centre of the Organic Farming Movement. With the birth of this new 'food consciousness' people began to take an interest in the food they were eating. They wanted to know where it had come from, how it was grown and the processes involved.

Consequently, farmers' markets sprouted everywhere, giving consumers the rare opportunity to actually meet the producers. It was from this movement that the Lampeter Food Festival first came into being, which, in turn, inspired and led to the numerous celebrations of food that now take place in Ceredigion annually.

Ceredigion is a must for all discerning gourmet tourists, and a warm open-armed welcome awaits all who care to visit any of the numerous working farms. Visititors are invited to see for themselves how the produce is made using age-old traditional methods, and how each farm is contributing towards a food chain that has become synonymous with exceptional taste.

At last year's True Taste Awards, organised by the Welsh Development Agency at the Celtic Manor in Cardiff, nine of the awards were presented to food producers and businesses in the Ceredigion area. Such awards not only epitomise the exacting standards of food produce in Ceredigion, but are also testament to the purity of the area's soil, water and air.

Ceredigion is a rare jewel, attracting visitors from all corners of the world. Experience first hand the stunning and unspoilt beauty of a county steeped in food tradition, and the genuine warmth of people passionate about their land".