Sodexo team up with Rocket Gardens to encourage schools to grow veg

Sodexo has partnered with Rocket Gardens - a supplier of organic vegetable and herb plants - to give schools across the country grow-your-own kitchen gardens.

Part of Rocket Gardens' "Dig for the future" scheme, which encourages schools to get children to grow organic vegetables and learn about the food they eat, the catering giant will provide schools in areas that it operates with seasonal fruit, vegetable and salad gardens.

The first division of Sodexo to take part is its fine dining, catering and hospitality provider in London, Sodexo Prestige. Its managing director James Greetham said: "Not only does this help us promote a healthy eating message but it will also help support the local communities where we operate. This partnership has so much potential, and we are very excited to be working with Rocket Gardens."

Sodexo Defence will also deliver Rocket Gardens to local schools as part of its "Sow It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It" campaign by its employees who give hands-on support to schools in their area to teach the children about food and where it comes from. Other Sodexo divisions, including Sodexo Education, will also participate in the project.

Mike Kitchen, Rocket Gardens founder, said: "Teaming up with Sodexo to help deliver this project is very exciting as potentially hundreds of thousands of school children will have a chance to enjoy the delights of growing, picking and eating their own delicious food."

The Sodexo Foundation, the company's registered charity, is sponsoring the company's partnership with Rocket Gardens as part of its "STOP Hunger" campaign which aims to tackle hunger, support good nutrition and promote life skills in local communities.

Each partner school will receive a year's supply of school gardens which includes a fruit garden, a spring/summer garden and an autumn/winter garden. The baby plants will arrive at the schools ready to be planted and grown.

Sodexo employees will also be able to win Rocket Gardens for their local schools and benefit from a discount on their own Rocket Garden.

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By Janie Stamford

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