Pupils at Orton Primary School are going back to the future with school lunches that have an emphasis on fresh local products. The job of "Local Food Procurement Officer" (funded by the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme for the first 18 months) has been taken by Deborah Potter who herself was a pupil of Orton Primary School over 20 years ago.

Deborah Potter talked to parents to determine what their preferences were for their children. As a result all processed foods are out and local, seasonal food is in with an emphasis on traditional baking. The children no longer have a choice of meal but the clean plates at the end of each meal show that bacon from Stoneyhead Farm, Slack's sausages from Orton, and local lamb & bean casserole are a huge success … not to mention traditionally baked ginger sponge and chocolate mousse for pudding.

Through projects such as this, LEADER+ is addressing an often underrated section of the population. We recognise that not only are children the future decision makers and buyers of food (local or otherwise) but they also have a huge impact on food bought by their parents. More than this though, the project brings forward the ease in which children can include fresh, tasty food as a daily part of their routine - a major issue when rising levels of obesity and diabetes among children are receiving bad press nationwide.

Please click on the links below to view other projects of the month: