| The Role of Industry in the operation of the Food Dudes Programme in Ireland |
The initial Food Dudes Programme was first piloted Ireland in 2002/2003 and was supported by Fyffes. The positive results (see Research) obtained in the pilot study enabled Bord Bia to receive funding under the EU programme for the Promotion of Fruit and Vegetables on the Internal Market to extend the programme to a larger number of schools commencing in 2005. Funding was approved for implementing the Food Dudes Programme in 150 schools over a three year period 2005 – 2008. The funding of €484,000 per year was provided as follows:
- 41% EU Commission
- 25% from the fresh produce industry*
- 17% Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
- 17% Bord Bia
*In addition the cost of the provision of fruit & vegetables in participating schools was borne by the industry. The logistics of supplying the fruit & vegetables to some 10,000 children per year was also organized by the industry.
The industry contribution was co-ordinated by Fresh Produce Ireland (FPI), the representative body for the fruit & vegetable industry in Ireland. An alliance of growers & producers, committed importers & distributors and progressive retailers, FPI constitutes a coalition of interest groups from across the entire supply chain - all dedicated to increasing the consumption of fresh produce among Irish children.
The following are the members of FPI who contributed to the EU Co-funded Food Dudes Programme:
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Donnelly Fruit & Veg |
Keelings |
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Dublin Meath Growers |
Musgrave SuperValu Centra |
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Dunnes Stores |
Sam Dennigan & Co |
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Fyffes |
Superquinn |
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Global Fruit Company Ltd. |
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At the end of the second year of the EU programme the Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan announced Government funding for the National roll-out of the programme to all primary schools over the period of the next National Development Plan 2007 – 2012. This programme is fully funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and managed by Bord Bia.
Bord Bia would welcome contact from industry regarding partnerships in the implementation of the Food Dudes Programme
Contact
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Michael Maloney
Director of National Food Dudes Programme
E-mail:
Telephone: 01- 6685155 |
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