Call to take part in ‘Let’s GROW’ initiative

SuperValu, and not-for-profit social enterprise GIY, have teamed up for the second year to bring the ‘SuperValu Let's GROW’ programme to another 50,000 primary school children throughout Ireland this spring. This means that 100,000 primary school children will have been educated in growing food through the ‘SuperValu Let's GROW’ initiative, having been supplied with the resources to grow their own fresh food for free at school. The partnership aims to elevate the significance of homegrown food within classrooms and households across Ireland.

The 2024 nationwide campaign was announced at Solas Chríost National School in Tallaght, Dublin, who were crowned the winners of the 2023 initiative, after they developed and adopted their own food growing grading system that accessed how the pupils made food growing even more interesting via creativity and imagination. The school was awarded with a new school garden to the value of €1,000 from SuperValu which was installed by GIY.

Each school that participates will receive a ‘SuperValu Let’s GROW’ classroom pack, featuring all the necessary tools for both food growing and food literacy education designed by GIY. The 2024 packs will include a variety of seeds such as cress, peas, salad leaves, beans and sunflowers. As well as the seeds, the pack comprises of 32 compostable pots, 32 magic compost discs and an expert GIY resource booklet with growing guides, lessons and activities created by GIY, to enhance the learning experience. All of the participating schools nationwide will be in with a chance to win a school garden. Research carried out by GIY shows that when children grow some of their own food they develop what we call “food empathy”, a deeper connection with food, which is proven to lead to a healthier lifestyle.

GIY Founder and CEO Michael Kelly says: “Food-empathetic children have better diets, eat more fruit and vegetables and have a better understanding of food and nutrition. At a time when Ireland still has among the highest rates of childhood obesity in the EU, establishing a deeper connection with food is more important than ever. In addition, children who have grown some of their own food are more likely to try new foods at home as a result. Not only is this important for the future health of our nation but it is also an opportunity to provide children with the life skills to grow their own food and obtain a natural appreciation for fresh, seasonal, healthy foods.”

HOW TO TAKE PART

School teachers are invited to apply online for a free ‘SuperValu Let’s GROW’ food growing pack at www.supervaluletsgrow.ie available while supplies last. Additionally, families looking to start their own growing journey can visit their local SuperValu store to pick up a GIY GROWBox.