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School Food Matters is on a mission to ensure that every child enjoys fresh, sustainable food at school and understands where their food comes from. Since 2007 their food education programmes have reached thousands of children.

The charity took their 2,500th pupil on a farm visit to pick vegetables and to create chutney. The Children were helped by professional chef Ruth Quinlan at Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey to create chutney and sauces. 

Participating children got the chance to sell their own-brand chutney in one of London’s seven Whole Food Market stores. The charity is on course to sell its 6,000th jar of chutney this year, raising more than £12,000 to be put back into their food education programmes.

Stephanie Wood, School Food Matters chief executive, said: “Around 75% of the children taking part in our chutney challenge are from inner city schools and have never been to a farm before.

“It’s a real joy to watch how excited they are to pick their own veg and then turn it into a tasty sauce.

“The children are learning some important lessons throughout the programme about where food comes from and how it's marketed. We’re grateful to the Whole Kids Foundation who continue to support Schools to Market.”
 

Participating schools came from all across London including Battersea, Camden, Westminster, Hammersmith and Hackney. These schools had above the average number of children on free school meals and many of them had never been to a farm before.