The EU School Fruit and Vegetables scheme is implemented in Ireland through the Food Dudes programme. The Food Dudes programme is an evidence-based incentivised behaviour changing initiative which is managed by Bord Bia and funded by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and the European Union. The Food Dudes programme aims to increase sustained fruit and vegetable consumption amongst primary school children through the provision and repeated tasting of fruit and vegetables over a 16 day intervention period with the support of accompanying measures in the form of role models (Food Dudes Heroes) and small rewards (followed by a home phase where fruit and vegetables are supplied from home). The Food Dudes Boost programme was introduced at the beginning of 2015 and will have been ordered to all national schools by the end of the 2018 school year. A total of over 800 schools and 110,000 school children participated in the Boost programme in 2017.
The Incredible Edibles programme reaches its 10th birthday in 2018 and is still going strong. The Incredible Edibles is a school-based programme with the aim of engaging children in growing fruit and vegetables and increasing awareness of their role in a healthy and balanced diet. Jointly funded by the horticulture industry with support from the Departments of Health and Education and Bord Bia, the programme is managed at school level by the farming promotion body Agri-Aware. A total of 1,500 national schools took part in the programme during 2017. The programme is commencing in schools this spring with another strong year of participation by schools anticipated with close to last year’s total already registered. ✽
