Pick of the crop
A whole-school healthy eating program to increase opportunities for Queensland primary school children to learn about and consume vegetables and fruit.
OUR MISSION
Getting kids to eat more vegetables and fruit
Only 3.2% of Queensland children aged 5 – 11 years are eating the recommended amount of 5 vegetables every day1. This needs to improve. 80.7% of children eat the recommended 2 serves of fruit every day1.
School students are not meeting the Australian Dietary Guideline recommendations. Evidence shows that healthy eating supports optimal growth and development, protects from illness and enables successful learning at school, performance at sport and supports life long healthy eating habits.
Pick of the Crop is supporting Queensland state schools to boost their student’s consumption of vegetables and fruit through locally agreed school actions.
PICK OF THE CROP
Promoting a positive food culture in schools
Pick of the Crop is consistent with the Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools and the latest Australian and international evidence of good practice.
The initiative started with 35 state schools in Bowen, Bundaberg and Logan as a pilot in 2020, and since then has grown to reach more students in state schools across Queensland. Regions2 include:
- Far North Queensland (discrete and remote communities only)
- North Queensland (including Bowen, the Burdekin and Townsville)
- North Coast (including Bundaberg, Wide Bay, Gympie and Sunshine Coast regions)
- Central Queensland (Mackay LGA only)
- Darling Downs South West
- Metropolitan South (including Redlands and Ipswich)
- South East (including Logan)
Our impact
GET INVOLVED
Impact through partnership
Pick of the Crop is funded by Health and Wellbeing Queensland and in partnership with organisations that host locally-based Regional Coordinators. These include:
- Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (North Queensland region, including Bowen and the Burdekin)
- Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Ltd (North Coast region, including Bundaberg, Wide Bay, Gympie and Maryborough)
- Children’s Health Queensland (South East, including Logan, and Metropolitan South regions)
- Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Ltd (Darling Downs region)
- South West Hospital and Health Service (South West region)
Please email us or drop us a line if you’d like to know more about Pick of the Crop or if you would like to connect with your local Regional Coordinator for Pick of the Crop.
References:
- Based on the Queensland Department of Education regions.
- The health of Queenslanders. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. The State of Queensland 2025 (Queensland Health).
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