This project is expanding the existing Pick of the Crop program to help primary school students in Queensland eat more vegetables. As part of the Plus One Service program, this project will test how locally led, school-based actions can improve students’ knowledge, attitudes and intake of vegetables.

Participating schools will adapt evidence-based strategies to suit their local context and develop their own action plans across three areas: classroom learning, the school environment and community and family engagement.

Activities include curriculum-linked lessons, school gardens, vegetable provision through tuckshops or school programs, and partnerships with families, local growers and community organisations. The project also measures vegetable intake over time and compares results between participating and non-participating schools.

Many school nutrition programs are not sustained once funding ends. This project addresses that challenge by embedding vegetable-focused actions into normal school systems and identifying what helps programs last.

Findings will support practical tools, reports and guidance for scaling school-based vegetable initiatives, helping drive long-term demand for vegetables and supporting the goals of the Plus One Serve of Vegetables by 2030 program.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund