Schools get busy growing Rudolph Potatoes with the launch 'Grow Your Own' 2011

Fresh from the field... for the second year running we are getting stuck in to support the UK wide Potatoes for Schools campaign run by the Potato Council.

Now in its sixth year, the programme has become bigger than ever with over 16,000 schools taking part. Reflecting that, we are pleased to be supplying Rudolph potato seed to over 3,000 schools. Children all over the South East of England will be talking about Rudolph outside of the festive period, as they try to grow the biggest Rudolph Potato plants and yield the heaviest harvests

During April we had 'spudtastic' fun visiting Applecroft Primary, Featherstone Wood, Chipping Hill School and Beeston Primary where over 1000 pupils across four counties spent time with several colleagues chatting about the field to fork process. The children also showed their competitive sides with our 'Name Game', 'Field to Fork Quiz' and the 'What do you eat game!'

For those schools that hadn't already gotten their hands dirty, Potato Pete helped the children plant their Rudolph potato seed and set them on their way in the competition. For those schools whose plants were already well on the way in the growth process the children proudly showed Potato Pete their young plants, and listened to useful tips from Fenmarc about how they can grow the biggest plants and harvest a bumper crop.

Sue Lawton for Potato Council, said: "We are delighted with the continuing success of Grow Your Own Potatoes. Over one million children have now benefitted from taking part in the project and have built up knowledge of where potatoes come from and why they are a staple part of our diets."

"Grow Your Own Potatoes is simple, fun and engaging, and this has been at the core of its success; becoming one of the most widely recognised school projects and ranking alongside much larger-scale activities. What helps us to really stand out though is the commitment from the industry. We've extensive involvement from suppliers; providing seed potatoes and also agreeing to fund prizes for their regions, growers linking directly with schools to help bring the project to life and a number of agricultural societies holding supporting events."

All of us here at Fenmarc really enjoy being involved with the project getting out to Schools to help, providing handy tips to help grow bumper crops. We want to wish the schools all the success in their projects.

To find out more about the initiative please visit www.potatoesforschools.org.uk or contact Sue Lawton on 0247 669 2051.

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