Pictured receiving their award marking them out as regional food champions are members of Huntingdonshire District Council’s environmental and community health services team.
The award recognises the success of their ‘Hunts for Good Food’ programme which aims to improve community diet and nutrition and was presented by the Food Standards Agency at a ceremony at the House of Commons.
The council’s team works with Cambridgeshire Community Services, Cambridgeshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) local schools and community groups to deliver the programme which highlights the ‘soil to plate’ concept that a lot of food is actually grown and doesn’t just come from the supermarket and the importance of a balanced diet and eating at least five fruit and vegetables a day. The projects are managed by Veronica Martin a health improvement officer who works jointly with the council and Cambridgeshire Community Services.
Local schools involved include Ramsey Abbey and Ramsey Junior, Winhills, St Neots, Bushmead, Eaton Socon, Priory Park, Huntingdon, Thongsley Field, Huntingdon, Spring Common, Huntingdon, as well as children’s centres and nursery groups. Local community groups in Ramsey, St Neots and Huntingdon have also been involved with grow, cook and eat schemes and allotment projects. In addition to promoting healthy eating the project also helps to develop cooking skills of teaching staff and community volunteers.
David Statham, Director Consumer Protection and Enforcement Group at the FSA, said: “Winning a Food Champion award is a major achievement and a clear recognition of the outstanding work done by local authorities in improving food safety and community diet and nutrition in their area. As a Food Champion they will have demonstrated good practice and shown outstanding commitment to making their local community a better place to live.”
Councillor Mrs Deborah Reynolds, executive councillor for public health said: “We were delighted to receive this award and I would like to thank all our partners in this project, particularly the Cambridgeshire Community Services for their input and helping to make the Hunts for Good Project such a success.”