Newcastle Kids to Sell School-Grown Fruit & Veg at Grainger Market

Young gardeners from primary schools across Newcastle are preparing to showcase months of hard work when they take over stalls at the historic Grainger Market, selling fruit and vegetables they have grown themselves while raising money for a local charity.

The Young Marketeers Newcastle Market Day will be held on Friday 10 July between 12pm and 2pm, bringing together pupils from eight Newcastle primary schools who have spent recent months planting, nurturing and harvesting a wide range of seasonal produce.

Visitors will have the chance to buy fresh vegetables grown by the children, including beetroot, potatoes, lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, rainbow chard, radishes and mixed salad leaves. Every purchase will support FareShare North East, helping the charity continue its work redistributing surplus food to community groups across the region.

A hands-on lesson beyond the classroom.

The initiative forms part of the Young Marketeers programme, delivered by the charity School Food Matters with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and the CLA Charitable Trust. The programme encourages children to understand where food comes from while developing practical gardening, teamwork and enterprise skills.

Rather than learning solely from books, pupils have spent weeks growing crops from seed under the guidance of experienced gardeners. They have also learned how to market their produce, engage with customers and manage a market stall, giving them valuable real-world experience alongside traditional classroom learning.

For Newcastle, where the famous Grainger Market has been serving shoppers since 1835, the event also highlights the city's long-standing connection with local food producers and independent traders.

Supporting healthier futures for children.

School Food Matters says programmes like Young Marketeers help children build a positive relationship with food from an early age, encouraging healthier eating habits while increasing awareness of sustainability and food waste.

Stephanie Slater MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters, said food education is an essential life skill that helps children develop confidence while understanding the journey food takes from seed to plate.

She said the programme has spent 15 years helping young people discover new skills, work together and celebrate what they have grown, with Market Day providing the perfect opportunity for children to demonstrate everything they have learned.

Newcastle event supports local food charity.

Money raised during the Newcastle market day will be donated to FareShare North East, which redistributes good quality surplus food that would otherwise go to waste to charities and community organisations across the region.

The partnership also introduces children to the importance of reducing food waste while supporting people experiencing food insecurity in their own communities.

Events like this show how schools can play an important role in connecting children with local charities, independent markets and sustainable food production.

Food education continues to grow.

The Young Marketeers programme has expanded significantly since it first launched 15 years ago. Last year alone it reached around 120 schools in 14 cities across England, with organisers planning to deliver the programme in 16 locations during 2026.

Feedback from participating pupils has demonstrated its impact. Around 86 percent said they learned a new gardening skill, 60 percent gained a better understanding of where food comes from and more than half said they learned something new about healthy eating.

The charity has also reported that thousands of children nationwide have taken part in its food education programmes, raising thousands of pounds for food redistribution charities while developing practical life skills.

For Newcastle families, the Grainger Market event offers more than an opportunity to buy fresh local produce. It gives shoppers the chance to encourage the city's next generation of gardeners, entrepreneurs and environmentally conscious young people while supporting an important local cause.

As interest in sustainable food, healthy eating and reducing food waste continues to grow across the UK, initiatives like Young Marketeers are helping ensure children gain skills that could benefit both their own futures and their communities.

Share your thoughts.

Will you be supporting the Young Marketeers Market Day at Grainger Market?