Stroud’s Shambles market was bustling with activity as students from four schools participated in the Young Marketeers harvest day sale.
The event, which saw young people selling produce they had grown themselves, was attended by Stroud’s Mayor Tony Davey and Deputy Mayor Susan Felton, highlighting the importance of this ‘School Food Matters’ initiative.
Students from Archway, Cashes Green Primary, Shrubberies, and St Roses showcased an impressive array of homegrown produce, including broad beans, lettuces, flowers, basil plants, chard plants, carrots, gooseberries, strawberries, tomatoes, chives, potatoes, rocket, and runner bean plants. They even offered homemade marrow chutney for sale. Their efforts paid off, raising £275 for The Long Table.
The Young Marketeers programme, now in its fourth year in Stroud and 15th year in London, begins in late March with a joint seed sowing session at Down to Earth Stroud’s Orchard Road community garden and an assembly in each school. This is followed by two gardening sessions in each school with a School Food Matters gardener and a visit to The Long Table.
Mayor Tony Davey praised the initiative, stating: “Projects like these are vital for our community. They help children understand the value of locally grown produce and the effort that goes into food production.”
Deputy Mayor Susan Fenton expressed her delight at the event, added: “It was wonderful to see the children’s enthusiasm and to learn about their experiences growing vegetables. This project not only teaches gardening skills but also crucial life skills like public interaction and financial management.”
She added, “I was so impressed that I couldn’t resist making a few purchases myself, including runner bean plants, chard, potatoes, and salad greens.”
Ruth Quinlan, Local Project Officer for School Food Matters, emphasised the educational value of the programme. “Our aim is to ensure every child understands the impact of food on their health and the environment. The Young Marketeers programme is a perfect example of how we can achieve this through hands-on experience.”
The event was well-attended by parents, members of the public, and supporters including The Long Table and Melcourt, who provided compost for the project.
Student feedback on the programme was overwhelmingly positive. All participants reported feeling happier at school or calmer after gardening, with most experiencing both benefits. They also noted learning about food origins and trying new foods or flavours during the four-month programme.
Debs Brock-Doyle, a volunteer for the programme, commented: “I only saw positives. The students looked like they were having great fun and seemed empowered by the experience.”
The young marketeers demonstrated impressive business acumen, even creating ‘lucky dip’ bags with their remaining produce as a sales strategy.
School Food Matters runs fully funded food education programmes for children, young people, and teachers across the country. Their goal is to promote a whole school approach to food, where children eat nutritious meals, understand food origins, and develop skills for a healthy lifestyle.
For more information about School Food Matters and their initiatives, visit www.schoolfoodmatters.org.
