News • Sustainable Farming Campaign
Take action: One piece of fruit and veg for every child in primary school
The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) is due to be renewed and Sustain are calling on the government to expand the scheme to all 4.7 million state-funded primary school children and prioritise seasonal, home-grown, and environmentally friendly produce.
In doing so, the UK farming industry could be supported while more children could be fed fresh, delicious, and seasonal home-grown fruit and vegetables.
The existing scheme faces two critical challenges. First and foremost, its limited duration, extending only from reception until year two, is too short a period for instilling lasting healthy eating habits in children. Secondly, the scheme is heavily reliant on imported fruit and vegetables which have been shown to be of poor quality, while British farmers are struggling to find reliable markets for high quality produce.
To overcome these challenges, four things need to happen:
- Expand the SFVS to cover all 4.7 million state-funded primary school children.
- Embrace dynamic procurement to favor local producers.
- Prioritize domestically produced seasonal fruit and vegetables whenever possible.
- Raise procurement standards to minimum L.E.A.F or Organic certifications.
Join us in advocating for a healthier, sustainable future for our children and British farmers.
Published Monday 4 December 2023
Sustainable Farming Campaign: Sustain encourages integration of sustainable food and farming into local, regional and national government policies.
