Boston school children benefit from locally sourced food
Case Study: Cattle farm diversification
Region: Boston, Lincolnshire
Organisation: Wiloughby Farm, near Boston
Overview of business and/or project
Farmer Stuart Ashton has successfully diversified from traditional cattle farming into providing hot meals for schools which supports the principles of the Government’s Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) by supplying local fresh food into schools in Lincolnshire.
Mr Ashton, who runs a 1000-acre farm with 650 cattle at Willoughby Farm, Frampton Fen, near Boston, was approached by the headteacher of Park Primary School as to whether it was possible to provide hot meals.
The trial was run from a local restaurant and research was conducted with parents, children, schools and governors to determine the levels of interest in the provision of hot school dinners, along with menu and meal cost option. The results of the trial were positive, demonstrating the need for a hot meal service at a primary school level and so the new business was launched.
Two years down the line the business now supplies to 13 schools and is looking to expand further.
Description and benefits
Following the successful trial at Park Primary, Mr Ashton approached Boston High School for the use of their kitchens which were under utilized - 790 pupils attended the High School, but they were only preparing 35 hot meals per day. Both parties saw the opportunity to take advantage of the spare capacity.
The service was initially set up with four schools. Ashton’s prepare menus and send them to schools one week in advance. Pupils make their choice and meals are then prepared accordingly to the appropriate numbers.
The meals are prepared in gastronorms – big commercial oven proof dishes – then packed into heat boxes, loaded into four vans and delivered by a team of six ladies to the schools. Here the temperature of the meals is checked, and then the meals are served.
As the schools have no specific dining facilities, meals are usually served in the hall or wherever there is sufficient space. The schools provide the tables and chairs, but Mr and Mrs Ashton have bought all utensils and the flight trays on which the meals are served. They also provide staff to serve the meals and clear away. The schools provide additional staff, if necessary. The vans then collect all of the equipment and staff, returning to the main kitchen for washing up.
All meat for the meals comes from Ashton’s farm shop – another successful diversification - with other produce sourced locally wherever possible. Ashton’s contract with the cooking providers stipulates that 60% of all ingredients should come from the Lincolnshire area.
The four weekly menu aims to give the children wholesome and nutritionally balanced meals without excessive levels of fat or salt, including fresh vegetables and fruit to help achieve new Department for Education and Skills (DfES) nutritional guidelines.
Around one third of all children in the schools have hot lunches but this figure is on the increase. In order to provide this service to more schools Ashton’s have recently entered into a contract with Boston College. This means that Ashton’s now delivers to 13 schools, supplying 900 meals per day, although there is capacity to provide double this number.
Further information
Stuart Ashton
Willoughby Farm,
Swineshead Rd,
Frampton Fen,
Boston
PE20 1SF
Tel: 01205 290229
Page published: 2 April 2007