Scottish Borders Council receives Food for Life Award
The Food for Life Award was presented to Michelle Povey, Head cook at St Ronan’s Primary School, in Innerleithen and covers 5,500 meals served daily across 62 primary schools.
The Food for Life award recognises catering operations that make meals from fresh ingredients. It places importance on free-range eggs; high-welfare meat and foods that are free from genetically modified ingredients and ‘undesirable additives’.
Presenter of the award Mairi Gougeon, minister for rural affairs and natural environment, said: “I am delighted that Scottish Borders Council has achieved Food for Life Served Here status within its primary schools, the 14th local authority in Scotland to do so.
“The Food for Life programme has made a big difference to the lives of young people across the country by guaranteeing that school children can access delicious, healthy and sustainable food that’s been grown, sourced and produced in Scotland.
“It also benefits local food producers in the Borders and across Scotland by protecting jobs and supporting local farmers, something that has a positive impact on the wider local economy. I strongly encourage other local authorities to consider taking part.”
Sarah Duley, head of food at Soil Association Scotland, said: “Food for Life Scotland works in partnership with local authorities to put fresh, Scottish, seasonal food on school dinner plates across the country.
“This Food for Life Served Here award is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved, from the Councillors to the catering staff. We’re delighted to recognise Scottish Borders Council’s commitment to serving fresh, local produce in their school meals, and we look forward to working with even more of Scotland’s local authorities in the future.”
The Food for Life Scotland Programme is run by the Soil Association Scotland and aims to help school catering staff serve freshly prepared meals made from locally sourced ingredients, that are healthy and sustainable.
It began in 2003 and developed into an award winning national programme, to transform school culture.