Children from schools across Bradford swapped classrooms for market stalls as they sold fruit, vegetables and plants they had grown themselves in support of a local food bank.
The Young Marketeers Bradford Market Day took place at Darley Street Market, bringing together pupils from six primary schools to put their gardening, teamwork and business skills to the test.
The initiative, run by charity School Food Matters in partnership with Grow to School and funded by Bradford Council, aims to teach children where food comes from while encouraging healthy eating and outdoor learning.
Money raised during the event will be donated to Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank.
A pupil displays freshly harvested beetroot at the school’s market day. (Image: T&A)
From seed to stall
Over recent months, pupils have grown a wide range of produce from seed, including potatoes, kale, chard, broad beans, garlic, onions and runner beans.
Seven-year-old Sarah, from Co-op Academy Penny Oaks, helped care for and sell vegetables grown at school.
She said: “We’re selling potatoes, kale, chard and some plants here.”
Asked how it felt to see people buying produce she had helped grow, Sarah replied: “It’s exciting.”
The pupils said many of their vegetables had already sold out by the time the market was underway.
Adam, another pupil taking part, said: “It was hard growing it, but then we finished and then we came here to sell it all.”
He added that the group had sold four cabbages, about 10 beetroot, 50 gooseberries and large quantities of potatoes and lettuce.
“It feels really good,” he said.
Young plants grown by pupils put out to sale. (Image: T&A)
Pupils from Co-op Academy Penny Oaks sold vegetables and plants grown at school during a market day at Darley Street Market. (Image: T&A)
Learning business skills alongside gardening
The event was not just about growing vegetables, but also teaching pupils enterprise skills.
Children were responsible for attracting customers, handling money and promoting their stalls.
Ella, one of the young traders, said: “We’re selling potatoes, broad beans, plants, flowers, onions and garlic.”
She explained that money raised could help support school activities and equipment.
“So then we can earn money for our school to get new equipment for the playground and to help pupils do all their trips and stuff,” she said.
Fellow pupil Nathan said taking part had helped him develop skills he could use in later life.
He explained: “We’ve been growing our vegetables and been chosen to come to Darley Street Market and talk to people and try to make some good sales,”
Pupils and a staff member pose outside Darley Street Market during the school market day event. (Image: T&A)
Building a connection with food
Teachers said the project helps children understand where food comes from and encourages them to spend time outdoors.
Emilia Cieloch, a Year 2 teacher at Co-op Academy Penny Oaks, said: “It’s important for the children to know where food comes from.
“They enjoy being outside, they enjoy growing, they learn the names of the vegetables and plants that we grow, and it’s just a lovely initiative.”
She added that pupils had enthusiastically promoted their produce to shoppers.
“They’ve been amazing. They’ve been shouting, ‘Get organic vegetables, come get fresh vegetables’.”
Freshly harvested potatoes and plants were among the items on offer at Thackley Primary School’s market day. (Image: T&A)
A pupil-made sign promotes organic produce for sale at Thackley Primary School’s market day. (Image: T&A)
Teaching healthy eating
Bradford Council’s Director of Public Health, Craig Blundred, said the programme was an important part of encouraging healthier lifestyles among children.
Mr Blundred said: “This kind of event is really important because it helps to teach children about all sorts of the food production process, from growing food to understanding what healthy eating is to also getting different skills when they’re setting up their stores to sell as well,”
He added: “By starting young, we’re encouraging children to think about what they eat, but also to try new food, try different tastes and get that opportunity to really think about healthy eating and experience it.”
Mr Blundred said projects like Young Marketeers can help tackle Bradford’s obesity crisis by encouraging children to think differently about food.
Pupils from Co-op Academy Penny Oaks sold vegetables and plants grown at school during a market day at Darley Street Market. (Image: T&A)
Growing confidence and enterprise skills
Organisers said the market day gives children the opportunity to follow the entire journey from seed to sale.
Vashti Maclachlan from Grow to School said staff work with schools throughout the year to establish vegetable gardens and help pupils care for crops.
She explained: “We help them set up and run a vegetable garden and we run sessions with whole classes, getting them outside, linking it to the science curriculum,”
The project culminates in market day, where pupils apply business skills including marketing, teamwork and handling money.
Her colleague Becky Earnshaw added: “They’re also got such a big pride for their school and what they’ve been up to…they are really good salespeople.”
A growing success
Gemma Foley, Project Officer at School Food Matters, said the initiative had returned to Bradford for a second year following a successful debut.
She said the programme teaches children how to both grow food and run a business.
Ms Foley said: “They get to learn how to grow and they get to learn enterprise and business skills, so that’s really good,”
Looking around the busy market, she added: “They really do love it. It’s really nice to see it all come together.”
The Young Marketeers programme is now in its 15th year nationally and continues to expand, helping children across England develop practical gardening skills, confidence and a greater understanding of healthy, sustainable food.