Schools Food Challenge

The Food Direct from the Farm scheme also operates the annual Schools Food Challenge, in association with the Academy of Culinary Arts and the Prince's Trust, now in its 13th year.

The Challenge involves teams of five year 9, 10 and xl club pupils from schools in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk devising a recipe for a main course and desert which fulfils a certain brief. This year's brief was to prepare a typical English meal for an overseas visitor.

The pupils then come into the Showground's kitches to prepare their meal in just 45 minutes. From these preliminary rounds, eight teams are selected to go through to the finals, to cook on the food demonstration stage on the Friday of the East of England Show. Here they must cook their meal again, this time in front of an audience, and while giving a running commentary. They must also produce an information board focusing on the importance of using British, locally sourced produce.

The school team awarded the highest number of points from all aspects of the Challenge will be presented with the prestigious Schools Food Challenge Trophy together with a cheque for £500. The Princes Trust xl club awarded the highest number of points from all aspects of the Challenge will be awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy as well as a cheque for £500. All participants in the competition will be given a complimentary family ticket to the East of England Show.

The winners of this year's Challenge were Redbourne Upper School from Bedfordshire and Shoeburyness xl Club from Essex.