Pick of the Crop
Healthy eating supports growth and development, helps protect against illness, improves learning and concentration, and encourages lifelong eating habits.
Pick of the Crop is school-based healthy eating initiative to increase opportunities for Queensland primary school children to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit.
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 recommendations in the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Evidence shows that healthy eating supports optimal growth and development, protects from illness, improves learning, gives energy for play and sport, and sets up children for lifelong 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 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.
PICK OF THE CROP
Promoting a positive food culture in schools
The initiative started with 35 state schools in Bowen, Bundaberg and Logan as a pilot in 2021, 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
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:
- North Queensland Farmers (North Queensland region)
- Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Ltd (North Coast region)
- Children’s Health Queensland (South East region)
- 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.
Getting started
Are you passionate about the benefits of food and nutrition for your students? Then Pick of the Crop could be an exciting opportunity for your school.
References:
- The Health of Queenslanders. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. The State of Queensland 2025 (Queensland Health).
- Based on the Queensland Department of Education regions.
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