Last week, Rebecca Harris MP met leading suppliers of the Government’s fruit and vegetable scheme at an event hosted in the Palace of Westminster.

Representatives from Minor Weir and Willis Ltd discussed the scheme with Rebecca which provides a Government-funded piece of fruit or vegetable each day to all Key Stage 1 (four to six year-old) children in state-funded English primary schools.

Each school year, the programme delivers an excess of 400 million pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables to more than 2.3 million children in 16,600 schools across England. Children in Key Stage 1 state schools in Castle Point receive fresh fruit or vegetables each day, with the options varying between days and seasons.

Rebecca Harris said:

‘It is so important to provide young children with fresh fruit or vegetables every day. It is essential that they eat enough to be able to grow and develop, but also crucial that they know how to make healthy food choices from an early age.”

Supplier Mark Driver said:

“For too many youngsters, this may be the only fresh fruit or vegetables they eat in a day. The scheme provides children with a healthy, mid-morning boost and it also offers a great opportunity for them to try new foods with their classmates, which in itself is a valuable social occasion.

When visiting the schools it’s clear to see that the children genuinely look forward to receiving their piece of fruit or veg - especially because they get to try such a broad mix of produce as the seasons change.

It was brilliant to meet with Rebecca Harris and so many of her colleagues who were interested in finding out about the scheme and the positive impact it is having in primary schools.”

For more information about the programme visit MWW’s school portal: www.kidsfruit.org.