Organic Welsh vegetables hit the menus in schools across Bridgend County Borough

Bridgend County Borough Council is one of six local authorities to participate in the ‘Welsh Veg in Schools’ project, a cross-sector initiative to introduce more organically produced Welsh vegetables into primary school meals across Wales.

Co-ordinated by Food Sense Wales, an organisation aiming to influence how food is produced and consumed in Wales, the scheme involves enthusiastic growers and other critical partners, including food partnerships, local authorities and health boards covering Cardiff, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire along with wholesaler Castell Howell, as well as Farming Connect Horticulture.

Funded by Welsh Government’s Backing Local Firms Fund, as well as Bridging The Gap, a programme led by Sustain, Growing Communities and Alexandra Rose Charity, the project supports Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure that every primary school-aged child in Wales is offered a free school meal and that the ingredients used come from local suppliers where possible.

“At its heart, Welsh Veg in Schools is about getting sustainably produced, local veg into schools to nourish children via their school meals – the more progress we make, the more benefit we can deliver to them,” says Katie Palmer, Programme Manager for Food Sense Wales.

“We aren’t producing enough veg in Wales and we need to be building our own supply base, bringing benefit to local communities and reducing our reliance on imports through connecting local growers with local wholesalers and fostering relationships that help businesses flourish.”

Dr Amber Wheeler, research lead, added:

“At the moment, most of the veg that comes into Welsh schools is from outside the country and often is frozen. This pilot is showing that it is possible to increase the amount of produce grown in Wales, and support growers and farmers in doing so, by using the market of local authority free school meal provision. We are growing from strength to strength and developing the systems needed to deliver more healthy fresh Welsh vegetables into schools, whilst supporting farming systems that enhance the environment here in Wales.”

In schools across Bridgend County Borough, frozen broccoli is being replaced with fresh, organic broccoli from Langton’s Farm, a partner of the scheme, run by Katherine and David Langton in Crickhowell.  Learners have been given an insight into the broccoli’s journey of plot to plate and have become completely invested in the project, choosing the Welsh vegetable over its frozen counterpart in terms of taste, texture, as well as sustainability.

Louise Kerton, Team Manager, Catering Services, said:

“It is wonderful for our school meals to be part of the Food Sense Wales Welsh Veg in Schools project.  The scheme is supporting the local authority and the growers by bridging the funding gap between the cost of the conventional frozen broccoli on our menu and the fresh organic broccoli.”

By supporting sustainable, organic farming, the project offers growers and farmers a new or alternative key income stream, as well as opportunities for children to connect with nature and farming through visiting local growers.

Farmer, Katherine Langton, commented:

“I’m really excited to be part of the Welsh Veg into Schools project, it means that great food is getting to those who need it most, our future generations. I hope we can inspire them to not only be passionate about eating healthy, environmentally conscious food, but to also be the future farmers and growers who will feed us all in return.” 

Castell Howell is also delivering the produce to the schools across the county borough. Edward Morgan, from Castell Howell, highlights the importance of the project and the company’s instrumental role in the scheme:

“We’re proud to be part of the Welsh Veg in Schools initiative and it’s great to see broccoli from Langton’s Farm being supplied into schools across Bridgend County Borough.  As intermediaries in the supply chain, we deliver to some 1000 schools across Wales and therefore recognise the importance of restructuring the way food is sourced. Working in collaboration with likeminded stakeholders, enthusiastic farmers, growers and committed customers is critical to achieve our shared ambitions, not only delivering Welsh-grown veg, but delivering information and discussing risk and opportunities with a high level of transparency.  We’re so pleased to be a part of this project, delivering high-quality organic produce to schools in Wales.”

Cllr Martyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services, said:

“What a fantastic initiative! I am so proud that our local authority is part of this project, playing a significant role in potentially overhauling the current food system, and having local, organic food being supplied in our schools.  This can only be beneficial for our children, our environment, our future.  I am eager to learn how this project will unfold and the long-term impact it will have.”

ENDS