Getting potatoes back into schools

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Potatoes New Zealand is committed to getting potatoes back into schools – both in school canteens/meals and in the home economics/food technology classroom.

Our strategic partnership with the Home Economics & Technology Teachers Association of New Zealand (HETTANZ) is a key enabler for this. Their executive committee recommend resources and teaching tools to be used in the classroom, which is why we are working closely with them to revise and develop potato resources.

On Saturday 20 May HETANZ held heir AGM and Professional Leaning Day at Massey University in Wellington. Potatoes New Zealand had a table at the event to showcase our resources. This generated great interest with teachers seeing the opportunity to order these free resources for their classrooms.

Potatoes featured prominently from Potato Lemon Cake for morning tea, Roast Potatoes for lunch, sample bags for teachers to take away. As reported in the HETTANZ newsletter… “It was hard to pull ourselves away from the mouth-watering gluten free potato and lemon cake with lemon drizzle at morning tea -who knew that potatoes could be this good in a cake?” We have subsequently received over 20 requests for the recipe!

Our partnership was recognised in the latest HETTANZ newsletter where president, Sarah Wirth said “Thanks too to Potatoes New Zealand, our other Platinum Partner,  we could not do it without all of your support.”

The day ended with a little inspiration from Beth Brash, a Trustee of Kaibosh. Founded in 2008 by Robyn and George Langlands and based in Wellington, Kaibosh is New Zealand’s first and most well-established food rescue organisation. She spoke passionately about  her involvement in the community focussed organisation and of the milestones they have reached. Beth encouraged us all to ‘Make a meal in May and Make a difference’. So make and enjoy a meal with friends whilst donating to a worthy cause.

In recognition of the great work Kaibosh do, Potatoes New Zealand’s Engagement & Communications Manager Steve Sheppard presented Beth with a 10kg bag of fresh potatoes to ensure those in need enjoy some tasty potatoes with their meals.