Schools Rush To Sign-up For Veggie Patches Program
More than 1,700 Australian primary schools register for McCAIN School Veggie Patches
21 July, 2010: Australian primary schools have given a thumbs-up to McCain School Veggie Patches
with a resounding response to a national callout to register for the initiative. More than 1,700
Australian primary schools have registered for the chance to earn resources for their vegetable
gardens, including seeds, tools and gardening equipment.
For Botany Public School, the program’s resources offer the opportunity to develop their
environmental and healthy eating programs. “Year six created a vegetable patch last year with
unwanted soil and wooden beams from around the school. Kindergarten has also been
contemplating making a veggie patch following our units on Healthy Eating and Growth and Change.
Any resources would be greatly appreciated to follow through and build on these ideas,”
Kindergarten Teacher Nicola Abbas said.
Celebrity chef Pete Evans, who has joined forces with McCAIN Foods as an ambassador for the
program, said the overwhelming response in the first year of the initiative shows schools are eager
to equip their gardens and educate children about the origin and benefits of vegetables.
“There has been a huge response to the School Veggie Patches program, with over 1,700 primary
schools already registered,” Evans said. “It’s great to see so many Australian schools on board for
this program that will educate children about growing and harvesting vegetables in a fun and
engaging way.”
“I’m passionate about the role food education plays for children in giving them the building blocks
for making healthy food choices later in life. As a dad I’ve seen firsthand how involving kids in the
garden and in the kitchen preparing meals has a positive impact on their willingness to eat and enjoy
a wide range of vegetables.”
Nicki Anderson, Marketing Director, McCAIN Foods Australia and New Zealand, said the level of
involvement and support from Australian schools in the first year of the program has been
overwhelming. “It’s great to see that Australian primary schools are just as excited about this
program as we are,” Anderson said.
“We are urging parents and the community to show their support by collecting the barcodes from
McCAIN Frozen Vegetables and Purely Potato packs, and either dropping them into their local
school, or posting them in to donate points that can be redeemed for seeds, tools and gardening
equipment, including watering cans, gardening gloves, compost bins and water tanks.”
Schools can register until the 20th August 2010 at mccainveggiepatches.com.
-Ends-
For all media enquiries or to request interviews with Pete Evans or Nicki Anderson please contact:
Jaya Myler, Fleishman-Hillard: +61 2 9025 9299, +61 422 202 881, jaya.myler@fleishman.com
Sophie Hohnen, Fleishman-Hillard: +61 2 9025 9266, sophie.hohnen@fleishman.com
About McCAIN School Veggie Patches
McCAIN School Veggie Patches is a program to teach primary school children about the origin and
benefits of vegetables, by planting and growing vegetables in their own schoolyard.
Participating schools have the chance to earn points that can be redeemed for everything they need
to build and maintain a veggie patch, including seeds, tools and equipment; such as gardening
gloves, wheelbarrows, water tanks and compost bins.
Parents, businesses and community members can donate points to participating schools by
collecting the barcodes on all McCAIN frozen vegetable packs, and McCAIN Purely Potato products,
and either dropping them into a local registered school, or sending them in a stamped envelope with
the name, town and state/postcode of the chosen primary school to: McCAIN Veggie Patches, 72
Christie Street, St Leonards, NSW, Australia 2065
There is also a microsite with online resources, games, student worksheets and educational quizzes
to support McCAIN School Veggie Patches at www.mccainveggiepatches.com
About McCAIN Foods Australia
A household name in Australian kitchens for over 40 years McCAIN Foods remains dedicated to
providing Australians with quality, nutritious, and convenient food. Originating in Canada with a
small frozen food plant opened by the McCAIN brothers, Wallace and Harrison McCain, McCAIN
Foods has grown to incorporate 55 plants across six continents.
McCAIN Foods (Australia) Pty Ltd produces french fries, vegetables, pizzas, meals and potato
specialty products in plants located in Ballarat, Tasmania and South Australia.
About Pete Evans
Restaurateur and award winning chef, Pete Evans’ passion for cooking was discovered because of his
love for the great outdoors. A surfer, fisherman, TV personality, author and chef, Pete and brother
Dave opened their first restaurant, The Pantry, in the Melbourne’s suburb of Brighton when Pete
was 19. Hugos Manly, which they opened in 2008, is the latest venue for the Hugos Group.
Pete has also been in front of the camera for the last 9 years as a TV presenter, most recently on My
Kitchen Rules, and earlier on “FRESH” on Channel 9 and lifestyle program “Home”.
Pete has published three books: “Fish” a collection of over 130 fish and seafood recipes from
Australian and New Zealand species, “My Table – food for entertaining” and his most recent book,
“My Grill” about the art of barbequing. He is currently working another book for release in mid 2010.
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