Education caterer Aspens Services achieves Food for Life Gold Catering Mark

The eight schools are Blagdon Primary School; Churchill Primary School, Langford; Dundry Primary School; Sandford Primary School; St Andrew's Primary School, Congresbury; Winscombe Primary School; Winford Primary School and Wrington Primary School. The Catering Mark inspector praised the Aspens' catering operation saying: "There is a clear commitment to excellence in the cooking and serving meals to the children in these schools." The gold award recognises that more than half of the food on the school menus is sourced locally in the South West. For instance, family-run leading cheese-making and farming business Lye Cross Farm at Redhill, Bristol, provides the cheese and meat for all eight schools while organic yoghurt supplies come from high-profile organic producer Yeo Valley at Blagdon. All meat served is farm-assured (meaning it is ethically produced), all fish served is sustainable and all eggs are free range. The award also recognises that menus feature a variety of organic produce, as well as Fairtrade ingredients the schools is freshly prepared. Aspens Services managing partner John Roe added: "To gain this national recognition of our commitment to providing schools with locally-sourced, freshly prepared, great-tasting meals using ethically-produced, sustainable produce is a fantastic achievement by our talented catering team and the schools. "The award is also a tribute to the hard-working regional farmers and producers who provide us with a first-class range of ingredients. Of course, it's not just about the food – our approach is also based on working with pupils, parents and schools to help children and young people learn about food and cooking, understand how good food is produced and why it is so important to eat well."