The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew yesterday launched the Field to Fork Programme in Omagh.

This is an innovative education resource which has been developed by the Western Investing for Health Partnership with support from the Western Health Board's Fit Futures Strategic Group, the Western Trust's RAFAEL Programme, and Western Education and Library Board's Community Food and Nutrition Team.

This project entails development of an educational resource focusing on local food and its linkages to nutrition, obesity, seasonality, provenance, environment and our cultural heritage.

Linking with Women in Agriculture, Cook-it!, DARD, WELB and RAFAEL, the project involves development of an A1 'Big Board Book' and accompanying DVD literature which is disseminated to all 194 primary schools in the Western Board area.

This educational resource is the first time local food and its links to health and well-being have been integrated within the educational curriculum for children.