In his June column in the Journal, Fresh Produce Consortium ceo Nigel Jenney pointed out that every fresh produce supplier or grower needs to do its bit to contribute to the generic message of the 5-a-day campaign and not just rely on the rest of the industry to drive consumption of their products higher.
Humber VHB, part of the Greenery stable, is one company that cannot be accused of leaving the hard yards to its counterparts and competitors. For a number of years, it has regularly supplied support and resources to work in this area.
For the third consecutive year, a team from Humber VHB’s West End herb nursery at Littlehampton visited the local school, Littlehampton Community School, to deliver a fun-packed two-day event to 371 year-seven students.
The event was also supported by Fyffes, which sponsored and manned the banana table.
Greenery UK’s events team Tony Bilsborough and Chef Noel took the students on a world tour of fresh produce. “It’s a format Noel and I have developed over the last six years,” said Bilsborough. “Fresh produce is a fun business and eating fresh produce should be a fun experience.”
Chef Noel, who before donning his big white hat and coat had a teaching background, added: “It’s hard work trying to get a 12 year-old student excited by the vitamin content of a kumquat - what you have to do is to get them to taste and try everything in a fun charged atmosphere with the tastes, textures, colours and smells of fresh produce all rising to create a WOW! Experience.”
Chris White-Moncrieff, operations director, herbs and seedlings at Humber VHB, said: “It’s a win, win, win situation - this has become an annual event, in two years time we will have achieved a first for the country with every student in the school having been through the 5-a-day experience at year seven - if that’s not having an impact on and contributing to the local community - what is?”
He added: “Many of our colleagues attended the school themselves, as I did, as do their children and mine, its important to grow those links, fun events like this achieve many key objectives.”
Greenery UK has already planned 50 similar events in the next school year.
To discuss how your business can participate in the Greenery’s initiative, contact Tony Bilsborough on 07976 039 903.
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