PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Youngsters at a Boston primary school will be learning all about healthy eating and how vegetables grow this term.

St Thomas’ Primary School on Wyberton Low Road is the latest school to sign up for the Freshtime Fun Club, an educational project run by local fresh food producer Freshtime UK.

The scheme aims to encourage healthy eating and teach Lincolnshire children about the food that’s grown on their doorstep.

This year’s Fun Club will be launched at St Thomas’ School at 1pm on Tuesday 19^th May when Year 2 children will learn about fresh vegetables and do some planting of their own in the school’s raised beds.

The launch is just the start of a whole term of vegetable-related activities. Freshtime will be providing the children balloons, badges, bookmarks and a monthly activity sheet.

Later in the term older pupils will work together to create a healthy, food-related product which they will sell to other pupils, staff and parents, with Freshtime helping to decide the winners.

Meanwhile Year 2 pupils will work with Freshtime on their cooking and nutrition topic.

“After the success of last year’s pilot launch of the Freshtime Fun Club we were very keen to build on the foundations we laid and invite more youngsters from the Boston area to take part,” said Mark Newton, Managing Director of Freshtime.

“As obesity becomes a growing problem and scientists look for new ways to feed the global population, it’s vitally important that children know where food comes from so that when they’re older they’ll understand the importance of diet, nutrition and sustainable farming.

“Sadly, many children in this area see fields of vegetables every day of their lives but don’t make the connection between what they see and what’s on their dinner plate in the evening.

“We’re hoping that in some small way the Freshtime Fun Club can help teachers and parents to educate our children about the importance of eating fresh food.”

Freshtime employs around 350 people in Boston and supplies chilled, value added, ready-to-eat salads, snacks, prepared vegetables and deli fillers to leading multiple retailers and food service operators.

The Freshtime Fun Club was launched in May last year when the first school to take part was Boston West Academy.

The launch of the Freshtime Fun Club will take place at St Thomas’ CE Primary School, Wyberton Low Road, Boston PE21 7RZ at 1pm on Tuesday 19^th May 2015.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend.

 If you are unable to attend but would like to receive photographs from the day please contact Shooting Star PR on 01522 528540.

Notes to editors:

• Freshtime based in Boston, Lincolnshire was created in 1993 by farmer co-operative ELGRO (East Lincolnshire Growers). In 2000 there was a management-led buy-out.
• In recent years more than £14 million has been invested in Freshtime’s purpose-built 82,500 square feet site in Boston to develop the firm’s production capabilities.
• Freshtime produces over 170 different product lines, from stir fry vegetables to couscous and pasta salads, deli fillers, soups and dips.
• Freshtime was included in The Grocer’s Fast 50 list of growing food businesses in November 2012 and 2013.
• The Freshtime Fun Club provides new learning opportunities for Boston area school pupils and teaches them about food production, vegetables and salads.
• This year’s scheme is being run in partnership with St Thomas’ CE Primary School in Boston.
• For more information visit www.freshtime.co.uk

For media information contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
@jezashberry