Pick of the Crop

Getting kids to eat more vegetables and fruit.

Program Components

It’s your pick—each school sets the direction

Pick of the Crop empowers schools to choose locally agreed actions, based on five components:

  1. Food and grower connections
  2. Teaching and learning
  3. Veggies and fruit at schools
  4. Healthy school environments
  5. Family and community connections
Food and grower connections

Connecting school children with agriculture through local growers and producers and with local communities will help broaden student learning experiences in nutrition, agriculture, sustainability and First Nations perspectives. Enabling schools to make connections with farmers through classroom work, farm visits and other mutually beneficial opportunities is an ideal opportunity to promote local, improve access to fresh and healthy produce and support local economies.

Veggies and fruit at schools

Kids are inspired to eat more vegetables and fruit when they are exposed to them more often. This component will create opportunities to taste vegetables and fruits, and encourage ‘brain breaks’ in schools, to support kids’ bodies and brains to become fueled to learn and play better.

Family and Community connections

This component encourages parents and carers to create healthy lunchboxes for their kids, as well as offer healthy choices at home. Consistent messaging around nutritious food between school, home and beyond is linked to improved health outcomes for kids and families.

Last updated 21 December 2023