Image L-R: Michael Coote, CEO – AUSVEG, Dave McNamara, CEO – Foodbank Victoria, Katie Fisher, Chief Commercial Officer -Foodbank Victoria and Justine Coates, Managing Director, Plus One Serve – AUSVEG
Foodbank Victoria has signed the Pledge for More Veg, joining a growing national movement to increase vegetable consumption across Australia while supporting growers, regional communities and a more sustainable food system.
The Pledge for More Veg is part of the Plus One Serve initiative, led by AUSVEG, which aims to encourage Australians to eat one additional serve of vegetables every day. With only 6.5% of adults and 4.6% of children getting their recommended 5 daily serves of veggies, Foodbank Victoria is committed to delivering even more fresh produce to communities right across the state.
Katie Fisher, Chief Commercial Officer at Foodbank Victoria, said the Pledge closely aligns with Foodbank’s vision for healthy food for all Victorians. “The communities we work with often face the greatest barriers to accessing fresh produce. The beauty of the Pledge for More Veg is that it focuses on improving access for vulnerable populations and recognises that everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy healthy, nutritious food.”
Foodbank Victoria is investing in programs designed to increase the availability of fresh produce at scale, including its Plus One Serve on-campus market project designed to boost vegetable consumption and food literacy among university students. Another key initiative is Foodbank Victoria’s innovative GROW program, which works with Victorian farmers to intercept surplus produce and redirect it into communities experiencing food insecurity. Programs like these have helped boost access to veggies, with Foodbank distributing 6.2 million kilograms of fresh produce in the last 12 months, through its statewide network of charity partners, fresh food markets, Community Food Centres, mobile supermarkets, schools and universities.
“From our new warehouse facility in Altona to our fresh food programs and mobile supermarkets, we’re focused on providing food that makes a meaningful difference to people’s health, while also helping relieve pressure on household budgets,” said Katie Fisher. “By creating better pathways for vegetables to reach the people who need them most, we’re supporting growers and regional communities while increasing access to healthy food for vulnerable Victorians.”
Foodbank Victoria’s Pledge also recognises that increasing vegetable consumption requires more than simply supplying fresh produce. “Food relief isn’t just about access to food. It’s also about helping people understand how to use and enjoy fresh produce,” said Katie Fisher. “We’ve seen firsthand that something as simple as sharing recipes, cooking demonstrations and practical tips can help build confidence and encourage people to include more vegetables in their everyday meals.”
Plus One Serve – AUSVEG Managing Director Justine Coates welcomed Foodbank Victoria as the newest signatory to the Pledge for More Veg.
“Foodbank Victoria is playing a vital role in creating pathways for fresh vegetables to reach the people who need them most through their numerous initiatives which makes a meaningful difference in the health and wellbeing of Australians,” Justine Coates said.
“By signing the Pledge for More Veg, Foodbank Victoria is demonstrating how organisations across the food system can work together to improve food security, support Australian growers and make vegetables more accessible for everyone. We’re proud to have them join us in our mission to help Australians eat one more serve of vegetables every day by 2030.”
Funding acknowledgement
Enhancing vegetable consumption through food literacy interventions in tertiary settings (HN24005) is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from Foodbank Victoria and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
