Growing healthy habits: Pick of the Crop partners with AUSVEG to boost veggie consumption

Pick of the crop program with student, teacher and staff working in the garden

Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pick of the Crop program will expand into new regions and communities with a $1.2 million investment from Hort Innovation
The Pick of the Crop initiative will partner with AUSVEG’s Plus One Serve by 2030 program to boost children’s vegetable consumption
Only 4.6% of children aged 2–17 years across Australia ate the recommended serves of vegetables for their age group per day in 2022, a decrease from 6.3% in 2017–18. The proportion of children who do not usually eat vegetables has tripled (1.5% vs. 4.5%)
According to research by AUSVEG, increasing vegetable consumption by as little as 1 extra serve per person, per day will deliver benefits and improve the health, economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Australians in total by $4.68 billion, which includes a $1.38 billion decrease in healthcare costs from reduced health risk associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.¹

Pick of the Crop, Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s whole-of-school healthy eating initiative will expand into new regions and communities, thanks to a strategic levy investment through Hort Innovation Frontiers, with co-investment from Health and Wellbeing Queensland and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Hort Innovation will invest $1.2m into the Pick of the Crop Plus One (POTC +1) research project, with the goal to gather insights that can be shared and applied across the country.

POTC will join forces with the Plus One Serve by 2030 program, led by AUSVEG, which is a 6-year R&D initiative tackling Australia’s low and declining vegetable intake.

The POTC+1 research project aims to build on the already established whole-of-school approach to boost learning, skills, and attitudes towards vegetable consumption in Queensland primary school students.

Co-investment from Health and Wellbeing Queensland to the value of $1.7m, will bring the value of the POTC+1 project to almost $3m.

Since its establishment in 2020, POTC has promoted a positive food culture in primary schools by connecting with local farmers and growers, increasing students’ access to vegetables and fruit, integrating food and nutrition education in the curriculum, and establishing and maintaining school vegetable gardens.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood, welcomed the co-investment.

‘Pick of the Crop Plus One builds directly on the successful implementation of Pick of the Crop, which has already reached more than 250 primary schools and 54,000 students across Queensland, since it launched,’ Dr Littlewood said.

‘The project provides an opportunity for Health and Wellbeing Queensland to expand into new regions and communities, provide robust evidence of impact, integrate grower and community partnerships, and provide data for scaling evidence-based veggie consumption interventions nationally.’

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls welcomed the expansion of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pick of the Crop program.

‘The Crisafulli Government is proud to support Pick of the Crop, which continues to give Queensland kids the tools to look after their own health through building healthy eating habits.

‘It is important that we continue to support our kids in developing the skills to lead a healthy and happy life.’

Only 4.6% of children aged 2–17 years across Australia met the recommended five serves of vegetables consumption a day in 2022, a decrease from 6.3% in 2017–18. The proportion of children who do not usually eat vegetables has tripled (1.5% vs. 4.5%).²

‘Low vegetable consumption is a significant concern for all Australians,’ Dr Littlewood said.

‘This co-investment builds on the proven success of POTC, allowing us to enhance what’s already working and expand it to even more schools and communities.

‘The insights from POTC+1 will provide a roadmap for schools and regions nationwide to adopt effective nutrition programs, creating meaningful change for the health and wellbeing of Australians and boosting public health and productivity outcomes.’

Key to POTC’s success are regional partners, government and local organisations, such as the Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers, Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, Children’s Health Queensland and South West Hospital and Health Service.

Coolnwynpin State School, in south-east Queensland, launched their own POTC garden in early 2025.

The garden champion, and STEM specialist teacher Andrew Leggett, shared that students have embraced their new veggie garden. ‘Since joining Pick of the Crop, we’ve seen such a difference in the way our students think about vegetables.

The sooner kids grow, pick and taste vegetables, the sooner healthy becomes habit, and we’re really seeing that come to life in our school garden. When children plant seeds, watch them grow, and cook with what they’ve harvested, they take pride in it – and they’re much more likely to eat and enjoy their veggies.’

According to AUSVEG modelling (from Hort Innovation funded Strategy 2024), increasing vegetable consumption by as little as 1 extra serve per person, per day will deliver benefits and improve the health, economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Australians in total by $4.68 billion, which includes $1.38 billion decrease in healthcare costs from reduced health risk cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

‘Since 2020, we have seen so many students embrace their POTC school garden, create plans for planting, and welcome the chance to meet local farmers,’ Dr Littlewood said.

‘If this translates into boosting vegetable consumption by just one extra serve a day, then we are making a big difference.’

Media contact details: Health and Wellbeing Queensland, 0439 599 210

Sources

AusVeg. Plus One Serve National Strategy and Baseline Report Summary [Internet]. 10 July 2025 [cited 2026 Feb 12]. Available from: https://ausveg.com.au/knowledge-hub/plus-one-serve-national-strategy-and-baseline-report-summary/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Dietary behaviour: Key statistics and data about child and adult consumption of fruit and vegetables [Internet]. ABS; 2023 [released 2023 Dec 15; cited 2026 Feb 12]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/food-and-nutrition/dietary-behaviour/latest-release#childrens-fruit-and-vegetable-consumption