Pupils across Sheffield benefit as Tesco scheme servers over 349,000 portions of fruit & veg
School children across South Yorkshire have munched their way through more than 349,000 portions of fruit and vegetables as part of Tesco’s Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme.
During the second year of the scheme, schools in Sheffield received a share of the 349,000 portions distributed across South Yorkshire, weighing more than 27,000 kg, helping Sheffield pupils access a greater variety of fresh fruit and vegetables during the school day.
Apples were the most popular choice among schools in the region, accounting for around 123,000 portions, followed by satsumas and clementines with around 43,000 portions and bananas with around 41,000 portions.
The local figures come as Tesco reveals the wider impact of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation.
Across the UK, school children attending schools supported by the programme have eaten almost 20 million portions of fruit and vegetables during the first two years of the scheme, reaching up to 186,000 pupils.
From crunchy carrots to juicy grapes, the huge amount of healthy food enjoyed by pupils has had a significantly positive impact on their nutrition – with the kids seeing an average 4.2% increase in Vitamin C intake alone in the last year.