Fresh Direct, leading supplier of fresh produce to the UK foodservice industry, has supported a supplier in helping to educate schoolchildren on the origins of the fresh produce they eat at school, and to encourage them to eat healthily.
R&RW Bartlett, a family run, Staffordshire based farm, played host to a school visit for 100 local school children from John Bamford Primary School.
With the Year of Food and Farming in education commencing in September of this year, both companies decided there is no better time to support educational programmes to help improve children’s understanding of the food chain, encourage them to eat healthier and to give them the opportunity to appreciate the importance of the countryside and the environment.
Many children living in towns and cities do not have the opportunity to visit the countryside to experience where their food actually comes from.
Alison Gutteridge, a year 3 and 4 class teacher from The John Bamford Primary School said the visit “allowed the children to gain an insight into where their food comes from and also allowed them to taste, in some cases, an undiscovered vegetable. The children found it incredible that their food was grown here in Staffordshire, and since the trip, we’ve had several comments from parents about their children’s new found excitement for home grown veg, especially parsnips.”
Nigel Harris, Fresh Direct managing director said: “With the advent of our new Fresh Direct Academy education suite, school visits to growers are something the company wholeheartedly supports. Our promotion of fresh produce shouldn’t end at a commercial deal - the whole healthy eating ethos will be governed by how successful we all are at educating and inspiring the next generation.”
The children were taken on a tour by the Bartlett team to view the complete process the parsnips go through from field to packhouse - packhouse to plate. The children were able to sit in one of the farms tractors and at the end of the day were given goodie bags containing fact sheets, parsnip seeds to grow, parsnip crisps and a pack of fresh parsnips on behalf of Fresh Direct and Bartlett’s.
Richard Wild, commercial manager at R&RW Bartlett, commented: “We have a duty to tell children that food does not come out of a tin, we need to educate them as to the journey the food has taken from seed to plate.”
To further encourage healthy eating among children, Fresh Direct has teamed up with local schools to provide smoothies and fruit bags prior to exams. Bicester Community College deputy head David Hudson said: “Fresh Direct provided Year 11 pupils with smoothies, apples, bananas and oranges prior to them going into the exam room. The fruit gave the pupils a real lift and for many it provided them with a healthy breakfast. We are hoping for a positive impact on exam results.”
