Parents choosing to include fresh grapes in their children’s lunchboxes have played a large part in the growth of UK consumption of seedless fruit, according to Foods from Spain.

A quarter of all grapes sold in England are eaten by children, and one fifth are included in school lunch boxes.

Fruits that do not contain stones or seeds are selling increasingly well, as healthy eating initiatives have focused on the eating habits of children.

Sales of grapes increased by 12 per cent last year, and 30 per cent over the last three years, according to TNS Worldpanel data from November 2005. The survey found that shoppers who already bought the fruit have increased the quantity that they buy, and more people have started to include grapes on the family shopping list.

Parents should continue the healthy eating momentum built up at school throughout the summer holidays, according to Foods from Spain.

María José Sevilla, director of Foods from Spain, said: “The growth in sales of child-friendly fruits demonstrates that more parents are acting on healthy eating messages and ensuring their children eat well at school.

“We’d like to see them sustain the excellent improvements of the last year, and give their kids fresh, easy-to-eat fruits such as Superior Seedless white grapes over the summer holidays.”

Superior Seedless grapes arrive in the UK in two weeks’ time, and will be in season for most of the school holidays. The fruit will be in the shops until mid August.

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