Scottish Borders achieve the Food for Life Served Here award
Congratulations to Scottish Borders Council, whose primary school meals service has achieved the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award!
Scottish Borders Council is the 14th local authority in Scotland to achieve the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here award for its school meals service.
Image: Mairi Gougeon MSP presents the Food for Life Served Here award to Michelle Povey, Head Cook, and pupils at St Ronan's Primary School.
What is the Food for Life Served Here award?
The Food for Life Served Here award is an independent guarantee of quality, that recognises councils who are serving school meals which are made from fresh ingredients, using free-range eggs and high-welfare meat, and free from genetically modified ingredients and undesirable additives.
Scottish Borders Council is now serving up 5,500 Food for Life certified meals every day across its 62 certified primary schools, meaning pupils are benefitting from food that is freshly prepared, locally sourced, and sustainable.
Image: Mairi Gougeon MSP serves up award-winning school dinners at St Ronan's Primary School, Innerleithen.
Celebrating award-winning school meals in Innerleithen
Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, joined pupils at St Ronan’s Primary School in Innerleithen to present the Food for Life Served Here award to the Head Cook, Michelle Povey, on behalf of the whole of Scottish Borders Council.
Ms Gougeon 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.”
Image: Mairi Gougeon MSP and Emily Banka enjoy an award-winning school dinner from Scottish Borders Council.
Putting more Scottish food on the table
The Food for Life Scotland programme supports local authority school catering staff to serve freshly prepared meals made from locally produced ingredients that are healthy and sustainable. As part of their Food for Life certified meals, pupils in Scottish Borders primary schools enjoy seasonal fruit and vegetables including carrots, broccoli and potatoes from Glasgow-based supplier George Carruthers & Sons Ltd.
Alex Fairfull, Head Buyer at George Carruthers & Sons, said: “George Carruthers & Sons Ltd are delighted to supply local authorities with fresh fruit and vegetables. It is a delight to be working with the Food for Life Scotland Programme, assisting Scottish Borders Council in achieving their Bronze award.
“Congratulations to Scottish Borders and Food for Life team for all their hard work that went into this award.”
Present at the award presentation was Colin Dyer of Campbell Brothers, who supply the Council with fresh, farm-assured meat for school meals. Colin said: “‘Campbell Brothers have been working with Scottish meat producers and Scottish caterers for over 100 years, and are pleased that our products assist Scottish Borders Council and other local authorities to meet the Soil Association’s standards, and demonstrate our commitment to providing the best of fully traceable & nutritious meat.”
Congratulations!
Councillor Hamilton said: “I am delighted that catering staff, schools and Scottish Borders Council have been recognised with this Food for Life Served Here Award.
“We are committed to providing quality, healthy and sustainable meals for our schoolchildren, which involves sourcing local products from Scottish food producers such as local farmers wherever possible.
“This award is testament to catering staff across the Borders who work hard to provide thousands of freshly prepared meals every day in our schools.”
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.”