The South African fruit industry has announced the winner of its UK Help a South African School competition.
The 'unity and diversity' collage by children at Furneux Pelham Primary School in Hertfordshire took home the top prize of £2,000.Students from the school were presented with a certificate at a special assembly by Anne Page, the honorary consul for South Africa. The winnings from the display, which celebrated South Africa's fresh produce industry, will be invested in new IT equipment for classrooms.
Now in its second year, the competition was developed by South African fruit growers' union Hortgro to help better educate UK youngsters about the country's supply chain. School entrants are required to submit an art collage that celebrates South African culture and encouraged to donate as many unwanted textbooks as possible. The books are subsequently distributed to rural farm schools across the Western Cape.
The competition, which was judged by TV presenter Aggie Mackenzie and FPJ reporter Thomas Hobbs, is 'vital' for promoting the ethics of South African fruit producers, according to Hortgro product manager Jacques Du Preez.
He explained: 'Educating UK schoolchildren about South African culture and the role that the fruit industry plays in supporting farm families is something we are very passionate about.The competition, which is now in its second year, is a great way to do this. The standard of entries has been exceptional and we were very impressed by the enthusiasm and creativity shown by the children and teachers.'
Tranmere Park Primary School in Leeds was runner up in the competition, taking home a £1,000 prize while Newlyn School in Cornwall took third place and a prize of £500 towards school resources.
FPJ's video report looking into the social efforts of South Africa's fruit producers can be watched here.
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