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Farmers and kids unite to buy British

Conrad Astley
26/ 3/2003

FARMERS have teamed up with a Higher Broughton school in a bid to get youngsters to buy British food.

The unusual partnership has been pushed forward by the National Farmers' Union. It is giving away farm-themed toys as part of a promotion encouraging the consumers of tomorrow to opt for British food, produced to independently checked quality standards.

The promotion, which local education chiefs say will also encourage healthy eating, was officially launched at St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, Hadfield Street, on Tuesday.

Children across the region will be encouraged to collect little red tractor logos, which will appear on over 5,000 British-made foods in supermarkets; they will be able to swap them for little red tractor models or farm sets.

Rebecca Whitburn, from Salford Business Education Partnership, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for these pupils to be able to get involved in this initiative at an early age.

"Healthy living is a primary concern in the area and this scheme encourages the children to think about what they eat and where it comes from."

Farmer's Union spokesperson Gill Shearer said: "The Little Red Tractor logo is the first emblem to fly the flag for food produced to independently checked British assured food standards. It is great to be able to link with St Thomas's and talk to tomorrow's customers."

Headteacher Josephine McDermott added: "A farmer came to speak to the children about how food comes from the field to the plate. It's obviously in their interests because it's educating the children about what's going on around them.

"It's amazing how many of the children don't recognise where food comes from - especially in this era of fast food. They often don't even realise how a plate of chips comes from a potato growing in a field."