Local School Children Set Up Shop at Borough Market as Part of 'Grow Your Own' Project

Today, local school children from Southwark and neighbouring boroughs will be setting up shop, trading their home grown fruit and veg in Borough Market. These very select young traders will join the ranks of London's renowned fruit and vegetable market to sell their seasonal fruit and vegetables, grown and nurtured from seed.

The Harvest Sale is the culmination of a partnership between Borough Market and School Food Matters, a charity whose mission is to ensure that every child enjoys fresh, sustainable food at school and understands where their food comes from. With the help of funding from United St. Saviour's Charity, the programme started back in the spring where pupils were taught some green fingered tips from Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins. They were also taught some top trading techniques from our Market Development Manager, and taken on a tour to meet the Market traders.

These novice gardeners have reaped the rewards of a sun-filled spring with bumper crops of pumpkins, herbs, beetroot and rhubarb. All proceeds raised from the pupil's veg sales will be donated to FareShare, an award winning charity which seeks to relieve food poverty by rescuing good food that would otherwise go to waste.

Keith Davis, Managing Director of Borough Market said: “Our budding young gardeners worked tirelessly, tending their crops and learning exactly how food goes from seed, to marketplace, to plate. For one special day, they will join the ranks of Borough Market's famous traders and try their hand at selling directly to the customer, putting into practice the skills they've learnt.”

Stephanie Wood, Founder and Director of School Food Matters said: “Our Harvest Sale is a wonderful celebration of the season and we always look forward to seeing small children proudly displaying their enormous pumpkins! We are hugely grateful to Borough Market and United St Saviours Charity for their continued support of our Young Marketeers programme which introduces children and their families to the joys of growing and harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables.”