Fruit deliveries crucial to classrooms
Now in its 20th year, the Fruit in Schools (FIS) programme is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting children facing hunger.
FIS is New Zealand's longest-running school-based nutrition and education programme.The programme supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to children at the start of every school day for breakfast or morning tea.
Approximately a quarter of all primary schools in New Zealand receive the free produce which specifically targets schools in low socio-economic areas to reach tamariki suffering material hardship.
Over 50% of FIS students are Māori and over 30% are Pasifika, both are groups disproportionately represented in child poverty statistics.
Daryl Aim, principal of Porirua's Natone Park School, says that being part of FIS ensures tamariki have daily access to fresh fruit to support their learning, wellbeing and health.
“This initiative helps students develop healthy eating habits, improves focus and energy levels in class and also encourages a positive attitude towards nutritious food," Aim says. "Fruit in Schools contributes to both the physical wellbeing and the academic success of our learners. Simply put, it is an amazing and essential component in the hauora of our students.”
Alongside the daily fruit offering, FIS also has an educational component.
The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust develops and provides curriculum-linked teaching resources that help explain why fresh fruit and vegetables are important for health and wellbeing, while also showing tamariki where their kai comes from. These resources are provided to all 565 participating schools and support practical classroom learning about healthy eating, seasonal produce and growing food.
The resources include a mix of print and digital materials aligned with the curriculum. Practical lesson plans and interactive activities are also provided such as seeds for school gardens, encouraging students to get outside, grow their own vegetables and develop a lifelong connection with fresh produce.
Packed with fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants, autumn fruit support immunity, digestion and sustained energy for growing tamariki. Eating in season ensures fruit tastes its best and is as fresh as possible, maximising the nutritional benefits. Enjoying locally-grown fruit also supports New Zealand growers and our regional communities who often depend on the success of horticultural crops for employment and income.
