Schools Rush To Sign-up For Veggie Patches Program 4

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21st July 2010, 12:32pm - Views: 1154





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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




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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