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Pick of the Crop

Getting kids to eat more vegetables and fruit.

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Welcome to

Pick of the Crop

This whole-school healthy eating initiative aims to increase opportunities for Queensland primary school children to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit.

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 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. Regions include[1]:

  • Far North Queensland
  • North Queensland (including Bowen, the Burdekin and Townsville)
  • North Coast (including Bundaberg, Wide Bay, Gympie and Sunshine Coast regions)
  • Darling Downs South West
  • Metropolitan South (including Redlands and Ipswich)
  • South East (including Logan)

If your school is located in one of these regions and is keen to participate in Pick of the Crop, consider the information at Getting Started before contacting us for more information.

Impact in Schools

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Participating Schools in 2024
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Students Reached in 2024
Pick of the Crop

Getting kids to eat more vegetables and fruit

Only 3.1% of Queensland children aged 5 – 11 years are eating the recommended amount of 5 vegetables every day[2]. This needs to improve.

80% of children eat the recommended 2 serves of fruit every day[2].

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.

Getting started

Information and templates for schools to start participating in the program

Vegetable sticks

Program Components

It’s your pick—each school sets the direction

3 school students standing in a garden, holding a sign that says Pick of the Crop

School Resources

Information, recipes, programs and resources to support schools implement their action plans

News and Features

Stories across the program, regions and from schools

A box of vegetables and fruit

Evaluation

Learning, building and sustaining

A school girl holding up a bunch of carrots from their tops

Contact Us

Learn more, get involved or ask us a question

[1] Based on the Queensland Department of Education regions.

[2] The health of Queenslanders. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. The State of Queensland 2023 (Queensland Health).

Last updated 9 April 2024