Pupils across the Highlands are tucking into locally grown organic peas, as The Highland Council joins a national pilot aimed at transforming school meals.
The Give Peas a Chance! project launched this month with support from Soil Association Scotland and funding from Sustain’s Bridging the Gap programme.
The initiative brings together a range of partners across the northeast, from councils and educators to farmers and food wholesalers, all working to get more Scottish-grown plant proteins on school plates.
In Highland schools, pupils are already enjoying creative new dishes such as kitchari rice, pea cookies, and even choc-pea brownies, with early reviews from the dining halls overwhelmingly positive.
The split peas are grown by Phil Swire at Balmakewan Farm in Laurencekirk.
The climate-friendly crop helps fix nitrogen in the soil, supporting sustainable farming while delivering a nutritious boost to pupils’ meals.
“It’s fantastic to be partnering with The Highland Council on this pilot,” said Phil Swire, organic farmer and pea producer.
“Growing peas keeps the soil healthy, and I’m delighted to supply local ingredients to the school meals service.”
Inverness-based Swansons Food Wholesalers plays a key role in the project, delivering the peas to schools across the region.
The employee-owned company has grown from a two-person greengrocer in 1991 to a 40-strong team serving Highland and Moray caterers.
To support learning alongside lunch, the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) has developed educational resources that trace the farm-to-fork journey of the pea.
Pupils at Inverness Royal Academy got a hands-on taste of the project during a Food Festival on 24 September, with farmer Phil Swire in attendance.
Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of the Council’s Education Committee, welcomed the initiative:
“Healthy meals feed our brains as well as our bodies.
“This is an excellent way to bring health, sustainability and education together in our schools.”
Cllr Kate Willis, Chair of the Climate Change Committee, said:
“By introducing locally grown organic peas into school meals, we’re supporting sustainable agriculture and reducing food miles.
“It’s climate action that starts on the school plate.”
Cllr Ken Gowans, who leads the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, added:
“We’re lucky to have incredible local produce in our region.
“This project shows that with a bit of imagination, we can serve up healthier, greener school meals.”
The pilot also aims to open new routes to market for organic growers in Scotland, showing how public food procurement can boost local economies while supporting national climate goals.
