The EU school fruit and vegetables programme will restart this week! During the kick-off today, pupils of OBS De Sterappel spoke with fruit farmer Danny Halm and Jan-Kees Goet, the secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) to discover where their fruit and vegetables come from. The 11-12-year-old pupils were presented with the first crate of school fruit.
Origin of Fruit and Vegetables
What types of fruit and vegetables grow in the Netherlands? Which season is best for eating fruits and vegetables? And how does a pear from a tree end up in a crate of school fruit? 11- and 12-year-old pupils from OBS De Sterappel in Lienden and presenter Luuk Dresen went to investigate. They spoke with fruit farmer Danny Halm and online with Jan-Kees Goet, son of a farmer and the highest civil servant in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality (LNV).
Jan-Kees Goet: “It is important that children learn how and where fruit and vegetables grow. More knowledge means that children realize the importance of fruit and vegetables, and in turn, eat it more often.” The pupils were presented with the first crate of school fruit at the end of the visit. It was right on time for the daily fruit break.
Participating Schools
Nearly 3000 schools are participating in the 12th edition. All schools will receive free fruit and vegetables 3 times a week for the next 20 weeks. In addition to free fruit and vegetables, the children will receive interactive lessons about healthy eating during those 20 weeks. Teachers can use the online lesson portal Chef! for this. In the portal, teachers will find the starting lesson about EU school fruit for every group as well as short lesson activities for during the fruit and vegetable break. Teachers who want to do more with food education can also access additional Smaaklessen (tasting lessons) and Smaakles activities.
The Success of the EU School Fruit Programme
Marlies Willemsen-Regelink, EU school fruit project leader: “Half of the schools that participated last year have implemented set days for fruit and vegetables. The children from over 80 percent of these schools bring their fruit or vegetables to school from home.” The EU school fruit and vegetables programme stimulates policy at schools and, in doing so, the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
Source: Wageningen University