Pupils from schools across Northern Ireland enjoyed time away from the classroom discovering the secrets behind prolonging the shelf-life of foods as they examined food preservation technology at Loughry Campus.
The one-day food preservation seminar at Loughry Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) provided the sixth form Home Economics pupils with an opportunity to see first hand the importance of food preservation and packaging techniques used in the food industry. Additionally the students viewed the superb facilities at the Campus as they investigated how foods are vacuum and modified atmosphere packed, canned and processed using flexible pouches.
Loughry has close links with the food and drink sector and all food courses at Loughry offer outstanding job prospects with virtually 100 percent employment for graduates, starting salaries of up to £22,000 and competitively priced accommodation on campus. So it is no surprise that the sixth form pupils were keen to check out the Foundation and Honours Degree courses on offer at Loughry. With courses in Food Technology, Food Design and Design and Food Management and Marketing, there is certainly something to suit everyone.
If you are interested in finding out more about food and drink and would like a career in a fast moving industry come along to Loughry’s Open Evening on Thursday 27 August from 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Sandra Witherspoon
Loughry Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Sixth form pupils from St Comhghall’s College, Lisnaskea find out what’s in a can from Pat McTeague, during their visit to Loughry Campus.
Upper Sixth Form pupils form St Patrick’s College, Maghera check out the wide range of modified atmosphere packaged food products with lecturer Ron Gardiner, Loughry Campus
Sixth form pupils from Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt check out the products of preservation by fermentation with Jim Devlin from Loughry Campus
Sixth form pupils Paula Sargent, Maria Kelly and Zara McBrien from Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt find out what’s in a can from Pat McTeague, during their visit to the Food Preservation seminar at Loughry Campus.
Ron Gardiner from Loughry Campus discussed the benefits of modified atmosphere packaged food products with Cambridge House Grammar School sixth form pupils Gemma Weir, Sarah Thompson and Jemma McKee
Antrim Grammar School sixth form pupils explore canning technology during their visit to the Food Preservation seminar at Loughry Campus.
John Dooey from Loughry Campus explores preservation in the dairy industry with sixth form pupils from Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry during their visit to the Food Preservation seminar at Loughry.
Sixth form pupils from St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel explore the canning industry during their visit to the Food Preservation seminar at Loughry Campus.
Sixth Form pupils Hannah Beattie, Rachel Anthony and Emma Gilbert pupils form Carrickfergus Grammar School check out modified atmosphere packaged food products with lecturer Ron Gardiner, Loughry Campus
John Dooey from Loughry Campus explores preservation in the dairy industry with sixth form pupils from Ballyclare Secondary School during their visit to the Food Preservation seminar at Loughry.
Sixth form pupils from Ballyclare High School check out the technology involved in pasteurisation during their visit to the dairy processing facilities at Loughry Campus.