Supermarket launches food-growing scheme

One in four schoolchildren have never grown anything in a garden, plant pot or allotment, according supermarket chain Morrisons - as it launches a major drive to get schoolchildren growing their greens. Figures show that nearly 10 per cent of children think bananas grow in British gardens and the same number have no idea that potatoes and carrots can be grown in a garden. Research has also shown that three-quarters of children are not eating their recommended five portions a day of fruit and veg. The ‘Let's Grow' campaign has been created with the help and advice of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. Packets of seeds  will be sent to schools taking part in the scheme for teachers to encourage pupils to have fun with food and start planting - enough free seeds to grow around 1.5m salad leaf plants for six million salad bowls. 

Fronted by TV garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, thousands of schools are expected to register for 'Let's Grow', which ties into the taught curriculum and supports the Government's 'Growing Schools' initiative.

Parents, friends and families will be able to get behind the scheme by collecting ‘Let's Grow' reward vouchers from their local Morrisons store from September 15. Schools can then redeem the vouchers for free gardening equipment, including everything from seeds to spades, composting bins to planters and even a greenhouse.

Launching ‘Let's Grow', Diarmuid Gavin said: "By encouraging schoolkids to get green-fingered, we can help them learn more about fresh fruit and veg. Planting seeds and tending them to spring up and sprout is great fun and very rewarding.  Who knows, having grown and picked their own, they might even get a taste for eating their greens too!"  
 
Morrisons ‘Let's Grow' scheme Director, Angus Maciver, said: "This is something children can really get stuck into and, by getting their hands dirty planting, growing, pruning and picking, develop a real passion for produce.

"'Let's Grow' will get thousands of children out into their school gardens, learning about where good fresh food comes from, how to grow their own and, hopefully, enjoying some tasty fresh fruit and veg as well. What could be better than that?"

The Morrisons research revealed that:

25% of children aged between four and 13 have never grown anything at home - with a further 16% saying they'd only ever done it once

15% of children admit they only eat fruit and vegetables when they absolutely have to

And even those who do eat fresh fruit and veg are missing out on their recommended produce portions - with only 26% of kids saying they eat five portions a day or more

Of those children that do like fresh produce, carrots are the vegetable of choice with two in five kids, with broccoli a surprise second favourite (20%)

Apples and bananas come out top with children in the fruit stakes

Schools will then be able to exchange the vouchers in January for their choice from a wide range of seeds and gardening equipment, meaning schools taking part in the ‘Let's Grow' scheme can have everything they need for the start of the Spring growing season in March. A team of gardening experts provided by community garden specialists FCFCG, will be visiting some of the participating schools to give hands-on support. 

Let's Grow is supportive of the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) ‘Learning Outside the Classroom' manifesto and the ‘Growing Schools initiative. National Schools Partnership has helped to develop additional bespoke resources linking growing lessons to key stages.

Minister of State for Schools and Learners, Jim Knight MP, said: "Every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development.

"I welcome the efforts businesses are making to support our Learning Outside of the Classroom Manifesto and Growing Schools initiative by encouraging young people to get actively involved in outdoor learning activities such as growing or gardening.  I hope young people and their teachers use these resources to grow their own food both at school and at home."