GREEN-FINGERED students from Malvern are swapping their computer screens for runner beans this Spring thanks to a new campaign aimed at promoting healthy eating and food education.
Pupils from Great Malvern Primary School and Welland Primary School are two of 6,666 schools across the country taking part in the Sow & Grow scheme which was set up by Innocent Drinks and organisation Grow It Yourself (GIY).
The project aims to encourage children to get outside, stick their hands in mud and get growing.
Michael Kelly, founder of social enterprise GIY, said: “It’s a fact that food growers have a better understanding of nutrition and eat more fruit and veg.
“Over the years we have repeatedly seen how even the simplest food-growing experience can make children passionate about what they eat, and help them develop a greater understanding and ‘food empathy’.
“That’s why we’re so happy to see schools involved.”
A recent survey undertaken by Innocent found 84 per cent of parents across the UK believe children would be more open to eating fruit and veg if they knew where their food came from.
Innocent’s brand manager Sim Viney added those who develop healthy habits early will more likely to become healthy adults.
She said: “At the moment nine out of ten young people are not getting their five-a-day, so we’ve started a campaign called Sow & Grow, which will get a quarter of all primary school kids growing veg in their classrooms, and learning where their food comes from.
“We’re hoping the campaign itself will grow in future years – our ultimate goal is to get every primary school child in the country to experience growing their own veg.”
