Sir Don's trip to the East Midlands is his third regional visit on this year's series of visits to each of the English regions. The visits also coincide with the start of the Year of Food and Farming (September 2007). During his visit he learnt about the sustainable development opportunities for food and drink businesses, how the region is trying to reconnect consumers with the food chain, what innovative research and development is happening in the agri-food sector and some of the key issues and challenges that the region is facing in delivering the Government's strategy.
Sir Don visited Hall Farm which covers just over 300 acres, extending along the River Eye to the east of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. It is a traditional mixed farm, which provides a wide range of habitats for wildlife and has preserved the features so characteristic of the Leicestershire landscape - ridge and furrow grassland and a rich hedgerow network. The farm offers guided tours and short walks on the farm free of charge to schools and other groups. Here Sir Don met schoolchildren from St Francis RC Primary School in Melton Mowbray on an educational visit.
After Hall Farm he visited Humphrey Perkins school in Barrow on Soar to see the changes brought about by the revolutionising of school meals.
The school hired a restaurant head chef, re-named the dining facility as The Restaurant, revamped menus, ditched pre-prepared and the majority of its frozen food in favour of buying ingredients from local suppliers, replaced disposable plates and cutlery with new crockery and steel, and transformed the whole eating experience at the school.
Out went all greasy foods, and in came freshly-prepared dishes with wholesome and nutritious ingredients - and as a result, more and more youngsters are opting for a school meal.
Sir Don said:
"Regional visits, such as that to the East Midlands today, allow me to find out what is really happening. It has been clear since the Farming and Food Strategy was established that regional delivery would be vital. Without engagement across the regions, we will not succeed. Today I have had the opportunity to discuss local issues and to see first hand how the Farming and Food Strategy is progressing at the business end.
"Each region is different and has different priorities. But I have found that in each region activity is being driven by a number of dedicated people who lead on a broad range of different subjects. For example the increase in local and regional production of food in the East Midlands is very exciting and bodes well for the future sustainability of the sector.
"The school meals project at Humphrey Perkins school demonstrates the way in which collaboration between local producers and schools makes sense. It is important for people, especially children, to understand where their food comes from. I have seen today how building relationships between schools and local food producers brings about benefits for everyone."
The Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy was established in 2003 following Sir Don Curry's report into the future of the industry ("Farming and Food, a sustainable future", also known as the Curry report). A steering group was set up in each of the English regions to develop and oversee a regional Sustainable Farming and Food action plan with an independent chairperson responsible for driving forward the plan.
The Year of Food and Farming, which started in September this year, has several aims including: improving young people's understanding of where food comes from; improving awareness of the role of farming and the countryside; developing healthy eating habits through better understanding of how food is produced; and increased appreciation of the environmental issues associated with food production.
