What’s happening?
Students at Collinsville State School are getting their hands dirty and their plates healthy with Pick of the Crop, a Health and Wellbeing Queensland initiative now in its fifth year at the school.
Delivered in partnership with Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, the program encourages kids to learn where their food comes from and how to eat more fruit and vegetables.
Why it matters
Nutrition education is crucial in childhood development. By embedding food literacy early through school gardens and real-world farming connections, Pick of the Crop helps Queensland children build lifelong healthy eating habits — a vital step in reducing preventable disease and improving student wellbeing.
Local Impact
Collinsville is one of the original schools involved in Pick of the Crop, joining in 2021. This year, students visited Lower Don Organics in Bowen and met farmer Jessica Volker, who shared her passion for produce and sustainable growing.
“Pick of the Crop is a wonderful initiative, opening children’s eyes to what is produced in their local region and giving insight to how these fruits and vegetables can be grown at school or in their own backyard,” said Jessica Volker.
“My hope is that instilling a love of growing plants early may also lead to interest in farming careers in the future.”
By the Numbers:
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96.9% of Queensland children do not eat enough vegetables.
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30.7% do not meet daily fruit intake recommendations.
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Poor diet costs the health system $1.18 billion annually.
Zoom In
Students also learned about protected cropping — a technique they will apply in their own shaded school garden to improve yield and protect against pests and heat.
“These hands-on farm experiences bring food education to life,” said Helena de Bortoli from Bowen Gumlu Growers Association. “Pick of the Crop is promoting a positive food culture in primary schools by connecting with local growers, increasing students’ access to fruits and vegetables, and maintaining school vegetable gardens.”
Zoom Out
Since launching in 2021, Pick of the Crop has expanded to more than 240 schools and reached 52,913 students across Queensland. It combines curriculum-linked lessons, gardening, local grower visits, and healthy food promotion.
“We know that healthy eating helps kids grow, learn, stay well and do their best — whether that’s in the classroom, on the sports field, or just building good habits for life,” said Joanna Munro, Director – Prevention Systems at Health and Wellbeing Queensland.
What to Look for Next?
Collinsville students will soon enhance their school garden with shaded structures, helping extend the growing season and improve sustainability. The initiative continues to grow in regional Queensland, connecting more schools with local farms and healthy food systems.
