Spark kids’ love of strawberries by picking your own
- Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and folate, making them a natural immunity boost
- Showing kids where their fruit comes from is an opportunity to encourage them to try new foods
- The winter strawberry season in Queensland runs between June and October
Help kids fall in love with fresh fruit by picking your own strawberries at a local farm this weekend or school holidays.
This fun activity supports kids in learning where their food comes from while fostering a healthy relationship with fresh produce.
Queensland’s winter strawberry season runs between June and October, with the mild winter climate allowing nutrient-packed strawberries to be grown across the state from the South East via Bundaberg to Atherton in the Far North.
Samantha Wyatt, Pick of the Crop regional coordinator in South East Queensland, said many people often looked to oranges for their vitamin C content, but strawberries were packed with both vitamin C and folate, making them a natural immunity boost food for children and adults.
‘Strawberry picking farms are always a huge hit with kids, whether that’s a school excursion or a day out with friends and family,’ Mrs Wyatt said.
‘The fruit is so bright and colourful that they can’t help but eat it right then and there, and there’s nothing better than seeing their eyes light up with the first bite of a fresh strawberry.’
Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pick of the Crop is a school healthy eating initiative that aims to increase opportunities for Queensland primary school students to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit including excursions to local farms.
Queensland Strawberry Growers’ President Adrian Schultz said deliciously sweet, Queensland strawberries added a burst of flavour to snacks and meals whilst still being low in sugar.
‘There are over 80 Queensland strawberry growers that produce about 112 million punnets of strawberries every year,’ Mr Schultz said.
‘Queensland strawberries pair well with both sweet and savoury flavours, including mint, ginger, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, basil, avocado, citrus and rhubarb.
‘There’s no need to waste strawberries that are a little old, they can be stored whole in the freezer for several months and used straight out of the freezer in smoothies, muffins and crumbles.’
Health and Wellbeing Queensland encourages families to get involved and enjoy the fresh air while picking their own strawberries. To find a local farm, visit the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association website.
Recipes
For more recipes and healthy eating ideas, visit hw.qld.gov.au
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