Some 4,000 primary schools have just harvested their own potatoes as part of the British Potato Council's (BPC) Grow Your Own Potatoes scheme.
The project saw four times the level of partecipation as last year, according to the BPC, who said growers across the UK have played a key role in making the project work.
Pupils at Velmead Junior School in Hampshire grew the heaviest crop of rocket potatoes this year, weighing in at 6,230g, winning a National Champion prize of a digital camera and a framed BPC certificate.
Headteacher Mr Howard said: “The children were very excited, from planting the seed potatoes right up to harvesting, and it helped them understand the whole process of where food comes from. We are delighted to have won. We are always looking for innovative ways of capturing the children’s interest and this proved to be the perfect ‘growing’ activity for them.”
Farmers helped by visiting schools, giving talks to children, arranging farm visits and encouraging schools to sign up to participate. Growers also offered practical help and many provided a second variety of seed potato for schools to grow.
Tracy Coult, Grow Your Own Potatoes project manager at the BPC, said: “The contribution made by the farming community has been an essential element in ensuring the success of this campaign and I would like to thank them all for their efforts.
“This year’s project was the most successful ever, generating four times the level of participation among primary schools compared with last year. The project has now been running for three years and every time it has grown in popularity, which is really encouraging for the future.”
Growers are being encouraged to get involved in Grow Your Own Potatoes 2008.
Coult said: “We are keen to support any grower who wishes to visit a local school and have provided some basic resources such as photos of tractors and potatoes being harvested as well as some possible games or facts that can be used.”
Growers who want to participate can find out more from the BPC’s website www.potato.org.uk.
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