NZ's Fruit & Vegetables Initiative for children in low-decile schools acknowledged globally

One of New Zealand's most successful and effective school-based nutrition initiatives, Fruits and Vegetables in Schools (FIS) has been selected for inclusion in a report for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Fruits and Vegetables in Schools (FIS) is a government-funded initiative that providing daily fresh fruit and vegetables to children in low-decile schools for 15 years. FIS is an innovative response to food insecurity operated by United Fresh and supported by the Global Alliance to Promote Fruit and Vegetable Consumption “5 A Day” (AIAM5). In 2004, this initiative was piloted in 25 schools and has grown to 557 schools in 21 regions across New Zealand. This year alone, the FIS initiative will provide more than 26 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 123,000 Kiwi children and staff nationwide.

Paula Dudley, General Manager of United Fresh, shared that she is exited at the inclusion in the report for the FAO and WHO. “United Fresh has worked to provide fresh fruit and vegetables daily to improve the health and well-being of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children. We know that the opportunity we are providing for these students to try dozens of varieties of fruit and vegetables during the school year normalises eating produce for snacks and hopefully leads to healthier choices later in life.”

The report focuses on the effective promotion of the consumption of fresh produce for health and will be presented to the attendees of a technical workshop on fruits and vegetables, between August 24 and September 9, 2020, in preparation for the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, which starts in 2021. The FAO/WHO report will be presented to workshop delegates by the “5 A Day”, an international network of organizations that work together to promote the health benefits of fresh produce.

Jerry Prendergast, President of United Fresh, believes the opportunities the organization provides to work alongside similar multinational organizations have tremendous benefits for the local industry of New Zealand. “Our organization is committed to working on a global scale to add value to the country’s fresh produce sector and to develop initiatives such as Fruit & Vegetables in Schools to improve the health and well-being of all Kiwis.”

United Fresh, a founding member of the Spain-based AIAM5, has over 29 years of experience in providing value to members and is the only pan-produce organization in New Zealand today. Members include growers, wholesalers, retailers, seed producers, importer/exporters, packers, marketers, transporters, fresh cuts and service providers that integrate all segments of the fresh produce industry.

For further information about the organization, visit their website.