THE countdown for Christmas is well and truly on.

Many of us will have been up in the attic to get those boxes of Christmas decorations down, while villages and towns up and down Wales are spruced up and glowing in festive lights.

And you will probably have more than the Christmas dinner on your mind, with present shopping bringing with it a possible headache.

What to get and where from?

The answer is right on our doorstep.

Think about your rural businesses and see if you can buy local, either for the upcoming feast or even gifts for family and friends.

Over recent years, we have seen a revolution in artisan food shops and boutiques - handmade gifts, sourced locally and within the reach of every budget.

There are plenty of small shops around that offer Welsh craft and locally designed gifts, and of course the choice for local food gifts is aplenty.

It really is worth having a look.

These are small decisions we can make that will have a big impact on our rural economy and our community.

As far as food is concerned for this time of year - speak to your local butcher and see what your local farm shop has to offer - I promise you will find many of the ingredients you need for your Christmas dinner right on your doorstep.

We produce some of the finest foods here in Wales, so it seems only right to make sure it is on your dinner table.

Welsh lamb and beef could even make a nice change or addition to the traditional turkey.

Add some Welsh grown veg to the equation and you’re on to a winner.

In all this, it is worth remembering that a pound spent locally will go much further than a pound spent in a chain store and it keeps our rural economies going.

By supporting our local businesses, we don’t help a CEO buy a third holiday home, but we help a local mum and dad put food on the table, a family pay their mortgage, and a little girl or boy get those dance lessons or their favourite team shirt.

GLYN ROBERTS

President

Farmers' Union of Wales