The Royal Welsh Show saw the launch of The Gloucestershire Old Spot Pig Breeders’ Club’s Traditionally Farmed Pork and Traditionally Reared Pedigree Welsh Pork in partnership with the Welsh Pig Society.
Both the Gloucestershire Old Spots and the Pedigree Welsh Pork have been awarded Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) status (in 2010 and 2017 respectively). These was achieved due to the traditional production methods which sets the meat apart from competitors.
In order to have their products awarded the TSG accreditation, both the GOSPBC and the Welsh Pig Society worked with specialists at Bristol University whose testing demonstrated the qualities of the meat. The breeds are unique in attaining the accreditation and demonstrate how farming methods can impact eating enjoyment.
Following Brexit, the TSG award process has been overhauled with the GOSPBC and British Pig Association Welsh Breed Representative, Corinna Taylor, joining forces to design a new assessment system. The process has now been simplified whilst retaining its robustness, in the hope it will encourage applications from breeders and producers.
Following approval, validation will last three years. Full details are available at www.gospbc.co.uk/TSG