Regional food group Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) is set to pilot a Smoothie Bar for Schools project across the region, with funding from Advantage West Midlands through the West Midlands Food Partnership.
Two schools in Coventry and Tenbury Wells have agreed to trial the bars for four weeks from June 26 and others are lining up to follow.
To coincide with International Smoothie Week, from June 19-25, HEFF is inviting schools in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester, Birmingham and the Black Country to sign up to the scheme.
If accepted, schools will receive the complete package enabling them to make and sell fresh smoothies and juices to students, including a mobile, custom-designed bar, juicing equipment, recipes, point of sale material and pre-qualified local fruit and vegetable growers to supply the fresh produce.
Tenbury High School in Worcestershire will be supplied by Flights Orchard Organics of Ledbury.
Philippa Blackburn of Flights said the company was very enthusiastic about the project: “We think this is an excellent idea and we have always thought that education plays an important part in understanding the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables,” she claimed.
“The children will learn more about seasonality of food and be introduced to some new, interesting fruits along the way.”
Rachel Kitto, trade development executive for HEFF added: “Schools will be actively supporting students towards their recommended 5 A Day intake of fruit and vegetables, as well as generating an additional form of income, and local suppliers will win new business.
“We are actively looking for schools who are interested in having a Smoothie Bar, but places on the scheme are limited so awards will be made on a first come, first served basis.”
Karen Wright, food and drink cluster manager for Advantage West Midlands who are backing the initiative said the project demonstrated the benefits of joined-up thinking in integrating new trends and business opportunities for local suppliers.
“Smoothies are becoming increasingly popular, children love catching onto trendy new products and the recent media interest in healthy food in schools means that this project should provide both social, educational and business benefits to the West Midlands Community,” she said.
