Kids get cooking for Fairtrade Fortnight

 22/02/2013

The competition, organised by the Fairtrade Steering Group, has pitted schools across the county against each other in a bid to find the county's best young cook.

The three finalists from Chad Varah Primary School, The Meadows Primary School and St Hugh's Primary School will each aim to impress the judges by cooking a hot meal and a dessert at BGU on Wednesday 27th February.

Judging their efforts will be former Masterchef contestant Eamonn Hunt, now joint owner of The Bronze Pig in Lincoln; Debbie Kayon from Healthy Schools; Amanda Chesson, Food Marketing Manager for the Lincolnshire Co-operative; and Ann Bradley, Catering Manager at Bishop Grosseteste University.

The competition will take place in the Eliot Room at the university between 2pm and 4.30pm on 27th February and the winning dishes will go on the menu for students at BGU in the second week of Fairtrade Fortnight (Monday 25th February to Sunday 10th March).

The winning dishes will also be featured on the website and blog of the Lincolnshire Co-operative, which is supplying all the ingredients for the competition.

Staff and students at BGU will take part in their own competition the following Monday (4th March).

Ben James, Community Co-ordinator at the Lincolnshire Co-operative, said: "We're really excited about seeing the delicious recipes that the kids have come up with. There are loads of ingredients that are certified with the Fairtrade mark, from chocolate and sugar to bananas and nuts, so there's a lot that they could prepare using those ingredients.

"At Lincolnshire Co-op we've stocked Fairtrade goods for many years as we know it gives farmers in poorer countries a better deal. We're pleased to be supporting an event that promotes quality of the ingredients and the good work that's being done across the world."

Rob Jones, Director of BG Enterprise at Bishop Grosseteste University, added: "This competition is a great way for kids to have fun while learning about the serious message and importance of the Fairtrade mission."

As part of Fairtrtade Fortnight Bishop Grosseteste University will also host a talk entitled Eat Chocolate - Save the World! by Kathy Cowbrough, a dietitian and public health nutrition consultant.

The talk will consider whether our children are getting the right nutrition and how our food buying habits can influence the health of families in poor countries.

Kathy will be speaking in Curiositea, the university's coffee shop, at 5pm on Tuesday 5th March 2013. Entry is free but places are limited so please contact Jessica.lyons@bishopg.ac.uk if you would like to attend.

22 February 2013

•The names of the finalists are as follows:
Chad Varah Primary School
Katie Todd, Ethan Keeley, Ellie Ounsworth and Michael Dunbar
St Hugh's Primary School
Oliwia Smiatek, Madelaine Hipworth, Leo Hughes and Meghann Butt
The Meadows Primary School
Katie Hesketh and Sophie Neal

•Fairtrade Fortnight (25th February to 10th March) will call on the British public to Go Further for Fairtrade in 2013 to look after the food we love and the people who grow it.
•The Fairtrade Cookery Contest is being led by the Lincoln Fairtrade Steering Group with their overall aim of achieving Fairtrade City status for Lincoln, with support from the Lincolnshire Co-operative, CfBT and Bishop Grosseteste University.
•The Lincoln Fairtrade Steering Group was formed early in 2012 and is chaired by City Councillor Chris Burke. Membership is made up of representatives from churches in Lincoln, local retailers and public sector and community groups.