Students from 7 schools across the Department of Education Darling Downs region came together at Rockville State School on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 for a hands-on day of cooking, gardening and learning as part of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pick of the Crop initiative.
Some schools travelled more than 2 hours to take part in the multi-school Pick of the Crop Kitchen event. Despite cold and windy conditions, there was plenty of activity throughout the day, with students getting involved in activities in both the kitchen and garden.
The students prepared food before sitting down to enjoy what they had made, while also learning about growing vegetables and exploring the principles behind mini wicking beds.
Pick of the Crop aims to increase students’ understanding and consumption of vegetables, while strengthening their connection with vegetable growers and the broader horticulture industry. The initiative supports Queensland state schools to boost students’ consumption of vegetables and fruit through locally agreed school actions, based on Pick of the Crop’s key components: teaching and learning, healthy school environments, and grower and community connections.
Horticulturalist and Pick of the Crop regional coordinator Keith Gilbert joined the day, alongside Milmerran Landcare’s Bec Kirby and representatives from AgForce’s School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP), which has connected Queensland primary producing agribusinesses with schools since 2004.
The event also attracted media attention, with Channel 7 Toowoomba attending to interview students, Mr Gilbert, the school principal and event organisers.
Pick of the Crop has engaged 300 schools and more than 70,000 students across Queensland since it was launched in 2021.
The initiative is particularly important given that only 3.2% of Queensland children aged 5 to 11 are eating the 5 serves of vegetables per day recommended by the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Healthy eating supports optimal growth and development in children, helps protect against illness, supports learning and sporting performance, and helps establish healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
The Pick of the Crop Kitchen event demonstrated the value of giving students practical, engaging opportunities to learn about food, gardening, cooking and where vegetables come from.
