The National Harvest Service For British Food Fortnight 2014

Sponsored by Tesco

Children’s applications now open!

Young people from across the country are being invited to play an integral part in British Food Fortnight 2014. We are calling on Schools and youth groups to create a Harvest box that celebrates the food produced in their part of the UK.

Each Harvest box needs to contain fruit and vegetables the children have grown themselves and a selection of food from local producers in their part of the country. The boxes will play a starring role at the annual National Harvest Service, to be held this year in Birmingham Cathedral on the 20th October.

Boxes might contain vegetables from your allotment or herbs grown in windowsills and hanging baskets; delicious treats such as Harvest loaves or bramble jelly made using local flour or fruit you have picked yourself; and products from local cheese, meat and vegetable producers.

Children will be invited to the National Harvest Service where the boxes will take pride of place. The display in Birmingham Cathedral will be admired by a host of VIPs and afterwards, the produce will be donated to a local charity.

You can apply online to take part until the 24th July 2014 at www.lovebritishfood.co.uk, where you can also find plenty of ideas and tips on planning and producing your Harvest box. Your activities can take place in after school clubs, during activities weeks, at home, or as part of the curriculum.

The National Harvest Service is part of the Bring Home the Harvest for British Food Fortnight campaign, which aims to bring together communities from across the UK to help rekindle the age old tradition of celebrating the Harvest. This year we are supported by Tesco who have pledged to help improve the next generation’s relationship with food over the next 20 years.  Together we’re hoping to encourage more communities, more schools and more young people across the country to get involved and celebrate the Harvest in style.

How else can children and young people get involved in Bring Home the Harvest?

· Bring Home the Harvest in your Community: In association with The Telegraph we are searching for the new Harvest Heroes - the communities that organise the most innovative, inclusive and imaginative harvest celebrations during British Food Fortnight.  There’s a new category for schools and young people in 2014 - the winners of which will receive an action-packed gardening workshop with Chris Collins and cookery equipment from Tesco Home Range.  Why not use the preparation of your Harvest box to create an event that your friends and family can join in with?

· Tesco’s Farm to Fork Trails for Children:  Tesco are taking primary school pupils in the UK on a journey of exploration from farm to fork. Helping them to connect with where food comes from, so that they can enjoy an informed and healthy relationship British produce. The aim is to explain where their food comes from, what it tastes like, what to do with it and the journey it takes to get to their plate. Youngsters will have the opportunity to bake bread in stores or go out to meet our growers in farm, or even have Tesco visit their school.

· #HarvestFever:  With Farmers Guardian, we want to see you showing off your home grown produce during British Food Fortnight, with your funkiest “Harvest Fever” poses!  You might be a farmer in your grain store, a school class or group of Brownies working in your allotment or you may be inside your local butcher or farm shop.  Throw those shapes, use the hashtag #HarvestFever and nominate people you know by “Harvest Fever forwarding” to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to tag @LoveBritishFood and @FarmersGuardian !

· WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE PART?  Look out for details of all British Food Fortnight activities, lots of ideas for taking part and 14 things people can do - one for each day of British Food Fortnight - to join in the fun and bring the harvest alive in their homes, schools and communities.  Be the first to hear the news by following the activities on Twitter @LoveBritishFood, #HarvestFever, Facebook: Love-British-Food

· WHO IS BEHIND BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT? The Bring Home the Harvest Campaign is sponsored by Tesco Plc.  It is part of British Food Fortnight which is sponsored by Aramark and a large family of organisations led by Centreplate, Enterprise Inns, Hallmark Care Homes, and Whiting and Hammond.

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE? To find out how you can take part, download promotional material, sign up for monthly updates on the latest British food news and for details of what is happening near you, see www.lovebritishfood.co.uk or email info@lovebritishfood.co.uk .