Lidl has announced the official opening of its new venture, which has seen the retailer develop a farm experience for free school tours.
Former Irish President Mary Robinson officially opened the Lidl Farm on Wednesday.
Schools will be able to visit the farm where children can learn important lessons about growing fruit and vegetables.
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Using lands at its Newbridge distribution centre in Co Kildare, and supported by Agri Aware, one of its key suppliers Meade Farm, the retailer has turned 8.5 acres of land into a free educational resource.
Visitors will be brought into a specially made facility to learn about how Lidl sources local produce and how crops grow and will get a practical demo of crop growing.
Tours of the Lidl distribution centre will also be offered, providing children with some insight into how the retail supply chain works.
Speaking about the project, Lidl CEO J.P. Scally said: “The promotion of healthy eating is a key element of our sustainability strategy at Lidl.
“The Lidl Farm will provide an excellent opportunity for the school children of Ireland to gain a better understanding of where their food comes from.
“As keen supporters of the Irish agriculture industry, we are delighted to partner with Agri Aware on this project. Agri Aware are fantastic advocates for education around the crucial role that farming and the agri-food industry plays in the Irish economy.
“Throughout the month of September, we have had hundreds of children visit the Lidl Farm for trial tours, and we are now pleased to officially open the farm and look forward to welcoming thousands of more students in the coming years.”
The farm will operate with a booking system where schools can book slots to visit.
Lidl will not be charging for the tours, with schools only needing to cover their own transport costs to get there, making this an affordable school trip which will be welcome news to many parents.
The tours are aimed at 2nd to 6th classes and will run during the months of September, October and from April until the end of the school year in June.
Alan Jagoe, Chairman of Agri Aware, added: “Agri Aware are delighted to team up with Lidl Ireland to deliver the Farm to Fork Experience with Agri Aware to the Lidl Farm.
“Connecting schools with farming to help children understand where their food comes from is one of our key missions as an organisation, and the Lidl Farm is a perfect platform to enhance that learning.”
“The Farm to Fork Experience with Agri Aware is a project brimming with positivity for agriculture, giving children hands-on learning about their food.
“The Agri Aware partnership with the Lidl Farm will help foster a long-term connection between the consumers of tomorrow and Irish food.”
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