At Mash Direct, community has always been at the heart of what we do. As a family-run business with deep roots in Northern Ireland farming, we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and support the communities we’re part of. That’s why we’re delighted to see our new partnership with W5 come to life through the launch of the ‘Field to Fork’ education programme, now actively being delivered in local primary schools.
The programme is already underway, with visits completed at Comber Primary School, Kilcooley Primary School and Carrowdore Primary School. Delivered by W5’s experienced education team and supported by Mash Direct, the free sessions are being rolled out across ten local primary schools, focusing on communities that may have fewer educational resources. By bringing the programme directly into classrooms, pupils explore where food comes from in a hands-on, engaging way, connecting science lessons to the food they see on their plates every day.
The sessions are built around practical, interactive activities that encourage curiosity and conversation. Pupils take part in growing vegetables from the seed and learning how soil and climate affect growth, cooking and tasting traditional potato bread, exploring balanced nutrition using the Eatwell Plate, investigating food miles and sustainable farming practices and creating short video stories to share what they’ve learned. These shared experiences help bring pupils, teachers and educators together, making learning more memorable and helping children build confidence in their understanding of food and the environment.
Jack Hamilton, CEO of Mash Direct, said:
“Seeing this programme up and running in local schools has been incredibly rewarding. As a family business rooted in farming, we’re proud to share our experience and support young people in understanding where their food comes from. The response so far has been very positive, and we hope this is just the beginning of a programme that can benefit communities right across Northern Ireland.”
Elaine Steele, W5 Learning and Education Lead, added:
“The ‘Field to Fork’ sessions are already having a real impact. By making learning interactive and relatable, pupils are developing a stronger connection to food, health and the environment and they’re enjoying it too.”
Feedback from teachers and pupils highlights how much the hands-on approach has been valued, particularly the growing and cooking elements. Research shows that many children lack a basic understanding of food origins, making programmes like ‘Field to Fork’ an important step in helping young people build practical life knowledge alongside classroom learning.
With the partnership now in motion and school visits already taking place, Mash Direct and W5 are proud to be working alongside local schools to support food education in their communities. As the pilot continues, the programme aims to grow, reaching more classrooms, encouraging more conversations and helping children connect the journey from the field to their fork.
