Schoolchildren sell the fruits and vegetables of their labour as part of healthy food initiative

Durants School pupils at Enfield Market last week

Enfield secondary school pupils became market traders for a day last week by selling school-grown fruit and vegetables to the public.

The children set up shop at Enfield Market last Thursday (13th) as part of a programme called Know Your Onions, run by the charity School Food Matters, which gives students an opportunity to experience cooking and growing at school with the help of expert gardeners and food teachers.

The aim is to stimulate an interest in food and a love of the natural world and the free programme for schools, now in its seventh year, also sees students visiting a nearby market garden to observe how the professionals do it.

Pupils from Durants School sold rhubarb, potatoes, spring onions, lettuce and herbs to shoppers at the historic charter market with the proceeds being reinvested back into their schools. Across London, £972 was raised in total on the day. All the money will go back to the schools to spend on more food education.

Among the visitors last week was Enfield mayor Suna Hurman who spoke with the students and even helped them sell their fruit and veg.

School Food Matters development manager Dela Foster said: “We were delighted to have 19 secondary schools taking part in Know Your Onions this year, with whom we’ve run almost 100 cooking workshops, gardening sessions, and farm visits.

“Whilst there are quite a few opportunities at primary school to grow fruit and veg, these often dwindle at secondary school, leaving students with the impression that gardening is just for little children. However, with Know your Onions, we build on their understanding, and can start to develop students with a real knowledge of plants, soil and vegetable produce.

“It is a delight to see them take ownership of their gardens and start to connect the vegetables they cook with with the ones they grow.”

School Food Matters teaches children about food through a range of engaging school projects and works to improve children’s access to healthy, sustainable meals during their time at school.

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