Third-generation farmer, Catherine Velisha, used a Nuffield scholarship to explore education programs that were helping people to value vegetables and the role they play in health.
Her research focused on grower-led education programs across the globe, analysing programs from the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia.
As managing director of Velisha Farms in Werribee South, Catherine has developed VEG Education, a registered training organisation which runs curriculum-aligned farm gate programs.
“There is increasing evidence that while the benefits of getting in your five serves of vegetables a day are widely reported and known, people’s daily intakes are not meeting the mark,” Catherine said.
“I’ve come to realise just how vital education is for our industry.
“Through VEG Education and our programs we focus on teaching young people about the benefits of vegetables, aiming to make them a more appealing choice in their diets.”
Catherine and her team host school visits and create teaching resources and content, such as behind-the-scenes videos of their farming practices and recipes to show how vegetables are grown and showcase their taste and nutritional value.
“I believe that this educational approach not only fosters a greater appreciation for fresh produce among children but also helps address misconceptions about costs and accessibility.”
Catherine found programs like the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) in the US and LEAF Education in the UK share common themes that are crucial to their success.
These include hands-on learning experiences, integration into school curricula, use of digital platforms to expand reach, and collaboration between farmers, educators and community organisations.
“By equipping future consumers with knowledge about food production, I hope to inspire them to make informed choices that lead to increased vegetable consumption and support for local growers like me,” Catherine said.
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