To celebrate Apple Day on the October 21, the Womans Food and Farming Union (WFU) and LEAF linked together to give city school children their first taste of LEAF Marque apples, at Spitalfieds City Farm in London.

The event, organised by Spitalfields City Farm and the WFU and supported by LEAF, to celebrate Apple Day and help children discover the delicious diversity of apples, included a range of apple related activities and games including apple bobbing, apple tasting, treasure hunts, face painting, drama workshops, treasure hunts and quizzes.

WFU trained speakers - Maureen Friday and Roz Day, an apple grower from Kent, ran a WFU ‘Farming in the Classroom’ educational workshop for Key Stage 1 children from East London. They learnt about food, farming, the environment and how LEAF Marque apples grow. The Spartan apples, kindly donated by Kent farmer, Paul Mansfield, were a real hit with the children - many of them asking for samples to take home!

Jeremy Boxall, LEAF’s commercial manager, said; “Apples are often children’s favourite fruits, but many have never ventured further than eating a Granny Smith or a Cox’s Orange Pippin. This event was a wonderful opportunity for children to get a taste of the many different apples grown in our country, which have a fantastic range of flavours and appearances. We were delighted to offer LEAF Marque apples to the children and tell them more about how they were grown and where they came from.

“We hope that all the children who came here today will go home and pester their parents to buy apples with the LEAF logo and visit their local LEAF demonstration farm,” he added.

Gillian van der Meer, WFU president, said: “WFU are delighted to be linking up with LEAF on Apple Day. Working together we have given children a taste of the countryside, and they have gained a greater awareness of the huge variety of apples grown in this country. ”

Founded in 1979, the WFU is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting an understanding of and confidence in all aspects of quality British produce. “The WFU believes that by representing the best interests of consumers and producers, both the health and economy of the nation will benefit,” said van der Meer.

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