About Fruit in Schools
The Fruit in Schools programme began in 2005.
The key objectives for Fruit in Schools are:
- for children to eat more fruit and vegetables
- for more school communities to promote health through a whole school approach
- to increase awareness and implementation of healthy eating and physical activity.
Funding and development of the programme
The programme is funded by Health New Zealand and managed by the produce organisation United Fresh Incorporated New Zealand and supported by 5+ A Day Charitable Trust who provide free curriculum-based resources.
Fruit in Schools was developed by an interagency group which included:
- Ministry of Healthexternal link
- Ministry of Educationexternal link
- 5+ A Day Charitable Trustexternal link
- Sport New Zealand — Ihi Aotearoaexternal link
- New Zealand Principals’ Federationexternal link
- New Zealand School Trustees’ Associationexternal link
- Health Research Councilexternal link
- National Heart Foundation of New Zealandexternal link
- New Zealand Cancer Societyexternal link
The programme was piloted in 25 schools in 2004 and has grown to reach:
- 21 regions across Aotearoa New Zealand
- 565 schools (around 25% of primary kura in Aotearoa New Zealand)
- Over 126,000 children and staff
- 27,000,000 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every year.
While there is interest from schools to join the Fruit in Schools programme, no new schools are being included at this time.