Image of the organic ingredients in the new meatballs

Taking a closer look at some of the organic ingredients

Children tuck into new menu with local organic ingredients

Healthy organic Peak District meatballs are just one of the many tasty additions to Staffordshire Catering Service's new menu for primary schools.

The new menu features top quality products including the beef meatballs which are supplied locally by Lower Hurst Farm, Hartington.

Lower Hurst Farm is a fully organic farm which has been producing prize winning beef for over 20 years and organically for 10 years from their own herd of over 100 cattle. The farm also offers school visits where pupils can learn more about organic farming and meat production.

The meatballs produced on site are 70% organic beef mixed with organic onions, breadcrumbs, parsley, basil and salt and pepper. To date the farm have delivered just over 100,000 portions (portion = 3x20g meatballs) or 300,000 individual meatballs to Staffordshire since November for the new menu.

County Councillor Peter Davies, Cabinet Support Member for Schools visited the farm earlier this week to see first hand the steps involved in the production of the meatballs.

He said: "It was fascinating to visit the farm and to see exactly how these meatballs which are being served in our schools are produced. Staffordshire County Council is keen to support children and young people and to encourage them to reach their full potential. By encouraging children to eat better in school we will be improving their start in life in a variety of ways. Staffordshire Catering Service only use quality ingredients and is continually sourcing new quality products from reputable and, where possible, local suppliers enabling them to build on their own menu provision."

Nicky Stonebridge, Manager at Lower Hurst Farm added: "We are delighted to be supplying Staffordshire schools with our organic meatballs. As well as supplying quality food, we are keen for children to understand where the food they eat comes from. We host a number of school visit at the farm, giving children the opportunity to see first-hand how their food reaches their school dinner plate."

The new menu for Staffordshire schools sees the introduction of 24 new recipes/dishes using high quality products. These include the addition of further vegetarian options such as Vegetable Frittata or Tomato and Vegetable Bake.

For more information about the new menu for Staffordshire schools please visit: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/catering

Any schools interested in booking a school visit to Lower Hurst Farm should call 01298 84900

Page Last Modified: 03/02/2009 13:48:28

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