Eat your greens — you grew them

HOW do you get children to eat more vegetables?

Get them to grow their own. That’s the solution put forward by Agri Aware as it launched a campaign to encourage 200,000 primary school children to cultivate their own vegetables.

Some 360,000 seeds and plants and 60 tonnes of compost have been used to create almost 4,000 growing kits which will land on the doorstep of every primary school nationwide later this month.

Increasing consumption of healthy foods and highlighting to primary school pupils the role of the farmer in producing quality produce is the aim of the mission, developed by Agri Aware and supported by the fruit and veg industry.

As part of the challenge, school classes will have to create a growing diary, which will document their agricultural adventure.

This will extend from the sowing and planting of potatoes, lettuces, cabbages and strawberries in February through to June harvest. Over €10,000 in educational prizes will be on offer for 10 winning diaries

Food and Horticulture Minister Trevor Sargent said there has been exceptional cross-industry support for the challenge which has given all primary schools the opportunity to participate for free.

“Developing the food growing skills and encouraging good eating habits of the next generation will help make Ireland become a more resourceful and healthier society,” he said.

The initiative is a follow-on from last year’s Meet the Spuds Potato Growing Challenge in which more than 2,000 schools took part.

A survey of teachers revealed 90% believe their pupils now have a greater understanding of farming and food.

Incredible Edibles committee chairman Mike Neary, Bord Bia, said the programme will play a significant role in promoting the consumption of fresh produce by school children.