From grass-reared beef and lamb to dry-cured bacon, seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh shellfish and a wide variety of farmhouse cheeses - as well as home-made preserves and baked goods - Pembrokeshire and its neighbouring counties offer a mouth-watering range of local food and drink.

And national research shows that's just what people want.

Nine out of 10 Welsh consumers would like to see even more Welsh or local food and drink on offer in restaurants, hotels, pubs, leisure and visitor attractions, as well as available to buy from local retailers.

That's where Explore your Local Food and Drink - a trade-exhibition at Narberth on Monday, February 9 - comes in.

The event seeks to bring chefs, cooks, proprietors and retailers together with over 30 local producers.

Food officer for Pembrokeshire County Council, Kate Morgan, described it as a 'no frills' business event.

"This area has excellent producers, delivering first-class, fresh, high-quality produce - much of it award winning," she said.

"We need to make the most of them, and use them wherever possible.

"This exhibition is a great chance for the hospitality and retail sector in our area to really find out what products are out there, where they are produced, and how they can use them in their business."

Kate added that having local food and drink on the menu, or available to buy, was now more important than ever.

"People have a growing interest in the provenance of what they're eating - where it comes from and how it was produced," she said.

"Although lots of hospitality outlets in the area already offer a fantastic range of local food and drink on their menus, there's still plenty of room for more.

"There's a wealth of opportunities - either for putting local produce on the menu for the first time, or by increasing the range of produce available."

She said the use of local produce could become an additional marketing tool and in turn, help to sustain the local economy.

"To get the true benefit, tell the customer exactly what you're offering - write it up on your chalkboards, put it on your menus. For example, something as simple as gammon and eggs is transformed when described as 'Locally-cured' gammon, free-range eggs and handmade chips or Pembrokeshire new potatoes.

"Or you can swop the traditional Stilton for one of the exciting new Welsh blue cheeses in your pancakes, sauces and salads - as well as on the cheeseboard."

Kate said that research showed that tourists were especially keen to seek out produce from the areas they visit with nearly seven in 10 visitors to tourist attractions in Wales saying they would like to see more Welsh or local food and drink on offer.

"Given the current economic climate and the fact that more people than ever are likely to be holidaying in Britain this year -the food we have on offer will play a major role in their holiday experience and offer opportunities for food tourism," she said.

"It's a fact that when we go on holiday, sampling the local produce is a big part of the experience. If you can cater for that demand, that's going to add an extra dimension to your business.

"And don't forget the Pembrokeshire Produce Mark - it's an instantly identifiable logo which shows the consumer that a product is made in Pembrokeshire - or that the establishment uses local produce."

Explore Your Local Food and Drink will be held at the Queen's Hall, Narberth, on Monday, February 9, between 11 am and 3 pm. Entry is free and there is no need to pre-book. It is being organised by Pembrokeshire County Council.