Farm to Fork

Farm to Fork is a classroom presentation that answers a question many children ask: where does my food come from? It follows one familiar favourite, the potato, on its journey from the ground to the dinner plate, with questions along the way to get children thinking and talking.

Children discover that potatoes grow in the soil, soaking up nutrients, water and sun, and that healthy soil matters for growing food. After harvest, the potatoes go to a factory and are stored in a cool, dark place to keep them fresh. Once packed, they travel on large trucks to supermarkets, where people take them home to enjoy. A short quiz at the end asks whether food grown nearby or food from far away is better for the planet, and why. The presentation also encourages children to look out for locally grown food.

To use it with a group, pause at each stage and ask, "What do you think happens next?" You could ask children what else grows in the ground, or which foods they could grow at home, then try planting seeds on a windowsill. At home, a trip to the supermarket makes a good follow-up: see if you can spot any locally grown food together. Finish by asking, "What was your favourite fact?" It is a simple way to explore healthy eating, farming and food that is kinder to the planet.