5 al Dia

The children and teachers travel to Mercabarna by coach and arrive at 10.30am. The visit admits two groups of 25 children each, meaning that 50 pupils take part in the campaign every day

The campaign co-ordinator welcomes the participants in the Mercabarna Assembly Hall and delivers a short talk explaining the aims and objectives of "5 a day", as well as the activities in which they will be participating throughout the day.

The content also deals with aspects which range from fruit and vegetable production and marketing to the importance of their consumption in maintaining a balanced diet.

A group of monitors specialized in handling children is responsible for guiding the pupils throughout the visit. Their first task is to show the children the model of Mercabarna, using it to explain the characteristics and dimensions of Barcelona’s central market.

The children go on a tour of different sections of the Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, building up an insight into the world of fruit and vegetable.

At one of the stalls in the Market the monitors impart a practical and theory class on fruit and vegetables families.

A workshop has been set up at one of the stalls in the Central Fruit and Vegetable Market with the aim of carrying out observation, experimentation and tasting activities using the products the children have seen. This helps them become more familiar with the differences in type, variety, colour, smell, texture and so on.

The schoolchildren visit a warehouse in Mercabarna, specialized potato-washing. The objective of this activity is to help the children learn the different intermediary processes and agents that exist between production and final consumption of fruit and vegetable products.

The children will be offered a lunch comprised of vegetables, fresh fruit and natural fruit juices, to accompany and complement the sandwich they have brought from home or school.

Before leaving, the children and teachers that accompany them fill in an evaluation questionnaire concerning different aspects of the visit

The children also receive a pack with information to give to their families, including recommendations on maintaining a proper, healthy diet, and games with the "5 a day" message.