AM backing for campaign to 'eat local' (From Free Press Series)

AM backing for campaign to 'eat local'

THE Free Press has been praised for our successful campaign to get fresh, locally sourced food into school dinners following the launch of a groundbreaking pilot project.

Assembly Member Laura Anne Jones has thrown her support behind our Eat Local, Eat Healthy initiative, which aims to encourage people throughout Monmouthshire to choose produce grown and nurtured in the county.

Last week the Free Press revealed that Assembly Member Michael German had launched a flagship pilot project at Overmonnow primary school.

The pilot scheme, which is also taking place at Llandogo and Shirenewton primary schools, is trying to bring together the use of fresh, unprocessed produce with an education programme to encourage children to have a healthy balanced diet.

Laura Anne Jones AM, who has in the past championed the rights of Monmouthshire farmers, is pleased that the campaign also focuses on local food producers.

Laura said: "This is a fantastic project and I really hope it inspires local people to check out farmers markets.

"The quality of the produce there is second to none and you have the added security of knowing exactly where it came from, as well as helping to sustain the local economy."

Farmers who operate locally say that there are huge benefits for consumers in buying from a farmers' market, as well as it being of great benefit to the farming community as a whole, Laura told the Free Press.

She is herself from a farming background and says she fully appreciates the importance of support from both the authorities and the public to local farmers.

Laura added: "I think it's a really good idea to educate local children early on about the benefits of eating healthy and buying local produce and hopefully this will stay with them as they grow up, leading to a stronger local economy and healthier, happier children.

"I often have a wander around my local farmers' market in Usk, and am always pleased to see the support offered to the local farmers by the public and projects such as this."