Evaluation
Learn more about the collaboration, participating school stories and the annual evaluations of the Pick of the Crop programs.
2024 Pick of the Crop evaluation
In 2024, Pick of the Crop expanded to 178 schools in six of the eight Queensland Department of Education regions. The evaluation aimed to capture achievements, impacts and outcomes from the implementation of Pick of the Crop over the year. Sources of information included:
- Community connections and events
- Schools’ experiences and perceptions of Pick of the Crop
- School action plan analysis
- Term 4 review survey analysis
- Key impacts and recommendations from Pick of the Crop implementation partners
- Far North Queensland pilot program evaluation.
This evaluation ensures Pick of the Crop continues to be feasible and acceptable for Queensland state schools in providing opportunities to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit in Queensland.
2023 Pick of the Crop evaluation
In 2023, Pick of the Crop expanded to 114 schools, with evaluation focusing on:
- Interviewing and surveying growers to understand their experiences and perspectives of Pick of the Crop
- Reported feedback from Pick of the Crop implementation partners on the most significant impact of the initiative for them, and
- Analysis of data from review surveys completed in Term 4 by 79 Pick of the Crop schools.
The data and feedback received ensures Pick of the Crop is applicable and effective in increasing students attitudes and knowledge around vegetables and fruit, and providing opportunities to see and learn about produce grown in Queensland.
2022 Pick of the Crop evaluation
In 2022, Pick of the Crop expanded to 59 schools, with evaluation undertaken in partnership with the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) at The University of Queensland.
Results showed that teachers observed improvements in various indicators when assessing the current state within the school compared to the status before implementation of Pick of the Crop. This included:
- students having more opportunities to consume veggies and fruit each day
- an increase in students attitudes and knowledge about vegetables and fruit, and
- increased access to a school garden.
313 activities were delivered across the 5 components of Pick of the Crop, with sustained impacts and outcomes for schools in their second year of implementation.
2021 Pick of the Crop evaluation
In 2021, 35 schools reaching over 10,000 students participated in a pilot of Pick of the Crop. This pilot was evaluated in partnership with the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR), The University of Queensland.
A summary of the findings shows the program is highly valued and feasible in achieving impact in complex school environments.
A number of stories from schools participating in the pilot program also capture how schools implement the 5 components of Pick of the Crop, the challenges and opportunities schools face and the outcomes.
Case Studies
Pick of the Crop stories
Read Pick of the Crop impact stories from participating schools and our collaboration case studies with students and industry placements.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER