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Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies, said:
"Welsh Government and EU funding for this new food centre of excellence, based at Furnace Farm will not only help boost local food, but also create job opportunities in the local economy and encourage visitors to this gorgeous part of our country.
"The centre offers a platform on which to showcase quality Welsh produce and to strengthen links between production, processing and the consumer. I hope that this will help to provide a more sustainable future for farmers and growers."
The £6.5m Bodnant Welsh Food Centre at Furnace Farm is to be opened by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall on Monday 9th July, as part of Their Royal Highnesses annual Summer visit to Wales.
Set on the stunning Bodnant Estate in the Conwy Valley, the centre has been backed with almost £3m from the Welsh Government including the European Regional Development Fund, Targeted Match Fund and a Processing and Marketing Grant as part of the Rural Development Plan.
The funding has enabled the transformation and renovation of 18th century farm buildings to house and showcase the best of local produce from across the region and Wales as a whole.
So far more than 60 employees have been recruited by Bodnant Welsh Food, mainly from the local area and many thousands of tourists are expected to visit the centre, bringing further economic benefits to the area.
Also involved in the development of the centre were local architects, Capita Symonds, Colwyn Bay, and the contractor, K&C Construction, was from Kinmel Bay.
On site is an extensive farm shop - with a wide range of produce from Wales - a tea room, restaurant, dairy, bakery and a cookery school.
One employee, Neil Davies, grew up just three miles away from the site and is now working as a marketing assistant at Furnace Farm.
He said:
"This is my first job since graduating and I feel so lucky and proud to have had the opportunity to begin my career working at such a place that will benefit the local area.Job opportunities such as these are few and far between in rural areas such as North Wales, especially in the present economic climate.
"Because I have grown up in the local area, I also care greatly about my community and it is amazing to be able to say that the vast majority of the products we stock in the farm shop will be sourced from this region which is fantastic for the local economy."
While at Bodnant, the Deputy Minister will also visit the new National Beekeeping Centre for Wales situated on site and attend a ceremony in which the Prince of Wales will unveil a plaque commemorating his visit.
