Minister for State at the Department of Education Josepha Madigan was on hand at Airfield Estate in Dundrum to launch Incredible Edibles 2022.
Schools can sign up to Incredible Edibles from Friday November 26th here.
The Minister with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion was able to sample some homemade soup on the morning, a simple recipe from the Incredible Edibles harvest.
Minister Josepha Madigan with the help of (L to R) Monica Tang, Tena Cacic & Vihaan Taneja of Queen of Angels School at the Agri Aware launch of Incredible Edibles 2022 in Airfield Estate Pic: Lorraine O’Sullivan.
Minister Josepha Madigan commented, “I am delighted to join with Agri Aware today at Airfield Estate in Dundrum to launch the Incredible Edibles healthy eating programme for Primary Schools.
“It is crucial that we create national awareness about the importance of health eating, especially for young people. Nothing trumps the quality of fresh food Irish food. Our standards are second to none.
“The programme empowers students by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to ensure a healthy diet. It is also fitting that this launch is taking place in the beautiful Airfield Estate which prides itself on sustainability and high-quality food in the heart of Dundrum.”
🥕🥦Today, I launched the @AgriAware Incredible Edibles Programme – a fantastic initiative that allows students to grow their own fruit and vegetables!
Well done to @AirfieldEstate @Bordbia @AlanJagoe_Macra @UCC and other sponsors!
✔️ Sign up at https://t.co/96a9Zl7exz pic.twitter.com/Wtrnr7rqrH
— Josepha Madigan ⚖️✨ (@josephamadigan) November 25, 2021
The long established scheme is a free, healthy eating and growing project that has been running in Irish primary schools since 2008. In that time over 500,000 schoolchildren have taken part in the programme.
The initiative has grown to cover 1800 schools nationwide with places available on a first come, first served basis.
Participating schools receive free grow packs that contain everything teachers and students need to grow their own fruit and vegetables at school.
The project reconnects children with where their food comes from. Incredible Edibles is a hands-on project where the pupils get to grow, cook, and eat the produce themselves.
Alan Jagoe, Chairman of Agri Aware said: “It was great to be at Airfield Estate to launch our flagship primary schools programme, Incredible Edibles. It is fitting that this venue in the heart of Dublin can be an exemplar for biodiversity and regenerative horticulture.
“We hope the children who take part in Incredible Edibles will develop a love of locally sourced, quality home grown food. They will also gain an awareness of the importance, the time and effort, and the sense of reward for such endeavours too.
“This project has grown massively over the last 14 years, that is with great thanks to our 14 sponsors who make that expansion possible.”
Incredible Edibles has 14 Sponsors in total, they are The Department of Agriculture, The Department of Education, The Department of Health & Healthy Ireland, Bord Bia, Country Crest, Keelings, IFA, Total Produce, Safefood, McCormack Family Farms, Quickcrop, Irish Potato Marketing Group, Irish Nutrition Dietetic Institute and Teagasc.