Angela Towers, 5 A DAY Supra Regional Co-ordinator
Following the recent election, the government has set out clear plans for the future of 5 A DAY, many of which are already underway. The Government’s ongoing commitment to the 5 A DAY programme is set out as one of the key components in the Public Health White Paper: CHOOSING HEALTH: Making healthier choices easier. This provides a great incentive for industry to continue developing creative initiatives with support from the Department of Health’s 5 A DAY team.
Similarly, the Food and Health action plan - Choosing a Better Diet - provides many opportunities for the fresh produce sector to get involved in the 5 A DAY programme and help promote the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables. The plan outlines key actions arising from the White Paper and other government strategies including the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, on which the Department of Health is working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The 5 A DAY teams in the regions continue to work hard to support these government commitments and are increasingly keen to engage with local industry. There are many ways in which the fresh produce sector can get involved through working with 5 A DAY co-ordinators around the country. As 5 A DAY regional co-ordinators, our aim is ultimately to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables, by overcoming the barriers, such as cost and accessibility.
To help achieve this we are encouraging local growers and farmers to work together to establish direct selling initiatives in the community, which will allow local people to buy fresh, high quality produce at reasonable cost. Similarly we are linking with industry to help schools and other public sector organisations to provide healthier food choices and encourage them to use local produce where possible. In the East of England, the 5 A DAY team has worked with local authority caterers to open routes for local suppliers to win catering contracts. They have also helped to produce a supplier's directory for schools in Essex to encourage them to use local growers. Without the support of the fresh produce sector, these sorts of changes would not happen.
We also work with the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) co-ordinators. For example, in Yorkshire and Humber, the 5 A DAY team is working with the fresh produce sector on the next round of tenders for the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme contracts. To facilitate this, a meeting was held in the region for growers and suppliers to find out more about supplying the scheme and introducing local produce to schools in the area. Similar events are taking place in other regions.
Details of activity in each of the nine government regions, including the SFVS tender process, are available on the 5 A DAY website - www.5ADAY.nhs.uk - along with contact details for 5 A DAY regional co-ordinators and information specifically for industry. Please visit the website, and contact us to discuss ways in which you could get involved. With a number of initiatives in place to support 5 A DAY and healthier eating, now is a great time to work with us and make a difference in your area.
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