Redbridge is an experienced supplier to the SFVS and has now extended its target audience to the nation's over sevens

Redbridge is an experienced supplier to the SFVS and has now extended its target audience to the nation's over sevens

Redbridge Produce and Flowers has pioneered a scheme to bring fresh fruit to school children over the age of seven years.

The initiative, called 7+, has been set up by Redbridge Produce and Flowers to build on the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS), which gives free fruit to children up to the age of seven. The 7+ initiative means that parents of children aged seven and over can now opt for their child to continue receiving a piece of fresh fruit a day for only £3.00 per half term.

Redbridge, which already supplies fruit to schools in the UK as part of the Department of Health's SFVS, decided to launch the 7+ initiative to ensure that all primary school children, whatever their age, have access to fresh fruit.

Richard Clements, account manager at Redbridge, said: "Our extensive experience in providing fruit for schools means that we are perfectly placed to launch the 7+ scheme and we are already supplying 150 schools. With the Department of Heath's School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme only providing fruit for children under the age of seven, our scheme gives parents the opportunity to pay a relatively small amount of money to make sure they continue to enjoy the benefit of eating fresh fruit every day."

Tina Wilkes, deputy head teacher at St Mary's school in Tetbury, Gloucester said: "The 7+ scheme has been really popular with parents at our school. They say that their children now eat fruit and vegetables that they have always refused to try before. Redbridge's scheme gives an easy way for parents to ensure their child receives fresh fruit every day."

Redbridge recently won an extension of its contract to supply schools in the North East and North West of England, bringing the total amount of schools supplied by Redbridge within the SFVS up to 4,500.

Clements added: "Redbridge is committed to supporting the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and 5-a-day drive, which is a valuable initiative for both the company and the community. The success of our existing contracts have been a major factor in helping us to extend our work and we are delighted."

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