SCHOOLCHILDREN in the Island have spent the week tasting local produce as part of Manx School Meals Week.
It is the first time that this event has been run in the Island and coincides with National School Meals Week in the UK.
Chris Wilson, schools catering manager, said: "The week has proved to be a great opportunity for primary school pupils to try local foods they may not have experienced before."
Children got to try mushrooms grown at Greeba, cheeses from the Isle of Man Creamery, and Manx Kippers.
Local company The Apple Orphanage also picked up apples which parents had collected and returned them to schools as freshly pressed juice.
Chris continued: "We are trying to use more local produce where practical as we are fortunate on the Isle of Man to have some outstandingly good quality local produce.
"Some of the foods, such as Manx mushrooms, don't just add interest and flavour to dishes but are packed with useful trace nutrients that play an important part in a healthy balanced diet.
"Getting children used to these foods at an early age makes the job of encouraging them to have a healthy diet so much easier.
"I would like to thank all the suppliers for their help and aim to make next year's week an even bigger event."
The School Meals Service serves half a million meals a year to primary school children at a cost of £1.85 a day.
Manx School Meals Week ran from Monday, November 8, to Friday, November 12.
