Sutton-Bridge-based potato supplier Solanum has been promoting healthy eating to five to 10 year olds at a local primary school.

Children at Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School were treated to a range of cooked potatoes, including chips made from Solanum's unusual red and blue potatoes. Parsnips and carrots, provided by sister company Isleham Fresh Produce, were also on the menu.

The aim of the day was to teach children about how potatoes are grown and harvested and give them the opportunity to try different varieties of potatoes and other vegetables.

After watching a video, produced by Russell Smith Farms, one of Solanum's growers, all 79 children returned to their classrooms to taste the produce and work through specially designed worksheets.

The highlight of the day was the coloured chips. Grown and sold exclusively for Waitrose by Scottish farmers John Bayne & Co through Specialist Potatoes, the varieties - Highland Burgundy Red and Salad Blue are on sale in Waitrose stores for a limited period.

"This is part of an ongoing educational programme," said a Solanum spokesperson. "It was encouraging for the Solanum team to see how interested the children were in potatoes and what they thought about the different tastes."

All children were presented with a bag at the end of the day containing some produce and other goodies, kindly donated by the British Potato Council.

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