PLANS to improve the health of schoolchildren by feeding them a piece of fruit each day could spell new opportunities for the county's farmers and nurserymen.

This was the message given to Durham county councillors as the authority announced that each infants' school pupil would get free fruit each day from next year.

Although the county's climate might not support the growth of more exotic varieties, it was hoped the scheme would encourage farmers and nurserymen to diversify and give an opportunity for wholesalers to expand their markets.

Coun David Hodgson, cabinet member for regeneration, said the Government's school fruit scheme had already been successfully piloted in about 500 establishments nationwide with encouraging results.

It allows for every child aged four to six to receive free fruit each school day as part of a national campaign to improve diet, and has been described as the biggest single initiative in child nutrition since the introduction of free school milk in 1946.

Coun Hodgson said consumption of all types of fruit was high, although bananas were the most popular, followed by apples, satsumas, plums and pears.

"The pilot schemes have even produced improvements in attention levels and behaviour and in some cases have had an effect outside schools, with some greengrocers reporting increased sales of fruit," he added. "Although our climate may not be suitable for the growth of some of the more exotic fruits, there's certainly the potential here for farmers and nurserymen looking to diversify.

"While there is a lot of work to be done before the scheme is introduced in the county, including decisions about who will actually supply the fruit, I believe there is scope to benefit the economy and it certainly warrants closer inspection."

The council's business development officers are to be asked to examine the potential benefits of the scheme to members of the county's agricultural and horticultural industries.

NFU branch secretary Phil Barber described the scheme as a good initiative.

"Anything to encourage schoolchildren to eat more fruit is to be supported," he added. "But we hope the emphasis will be on quality British fruit rather than the cheapest available, irrelevant of its source."