The Grow Your Own Potatoes campaign run by the Potato Council is said to be “flourishing”.
The educational project for primary school pupils continues to expand, with 13,000 schools registered for 2011 - the equivalent of 60 per cent of all primary schools in the UK taking part.
Industry involvement has also increased with more growers lined up to help local schools with planting (on 15 March) and harvesting (on 21 June), and a number of suppliers have provided seed potatoes for the school growing kits.
Each kit contains two varieties of seed potatoes for schools to grow. Rocket is included in all kits and is the variety with which schools can enter the nationwide competition to win an interactive whiteboard.
Various companies in the sector - including Puffin Produce, QV Foods amd Fenmarc - are also supplying various varieties in addition to Rocket.
Caroline Evans, head of marketing and corporate affairs for Potato Council, said: “We are delighted with the continuing success of Grow Your Own Potatoes. Over one million children have now benefitted from taking part in the project and have built up knowledge of where potatoes come from and why they are a staple part of our diets.
“Grow Your Own Potatoes is simple, fun and engaging, and this has been at the core of its success; becoming one of the most widely recognised school projects and ranking alongside much larger-scale activities.
“What helps us to really stand out though is the commitment from the industry. We’ve extensive involvement from suppliers; providing seed potatoes and also agreeing to fund prizes for their regions, growers linking directly with schools to help bring the project to life and a number of agricultural societies holding supporting events.”
A range of materials and advice is available via www.potatoesforschools.org.uk, which can be used to help schools care for their plants over the next three months and encourage children to build a real affinity for potatoes that will stay with them.
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