More than 2,700 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables are to be distributed to over 5,000 primary schools across Italy after the country's Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia officially launched a new, national school fruit scheme called 'Frutta nelle scuole'.
Calling on the whole country to encourage healthy eating among young Italians, Mr Zaia said the initiative had the potential to change attitudes to health and eating among children and, eventually, adults.
'In short, at breaktimes it's better to have one of our farmers' apples or pears than snacks full of colourings and calories that make you fat,' he said.
Mr Zaia, who recently endorsed a new McDonald's burger called the McItaly, which is made only from products sourced within Italy, said teaching young children the importance of a healthy diet based on good, locally produced products and the country's rich agricultural tradition would help them recognise the value of a healthy lifestyle.
'Teaching about good food and healthy lifestyles is the best way to combat diseases like obesity and diabetes, not to mention the help it gives our farmers by promoting the consumption of fruit and vegetables,' he added.
Supported by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (Mipaaf) and backed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, Univesrity and Research as well as Italy's various regional and provincial authorities, the scheme will see fresh produce distributed to schools in several regions of the country.
From today, schoolchildren in Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Toscana, Lazio, Sardegna and Umbria will begin receiving free fruit, as will pupils in the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano.
On 15 March, meanwhile, the scheme will be extended to primary schools in all other regions of Italy.
Products to be distributed include apples, pears, oranges, kiwifruit, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes and celery – all produced under one of the country's PGI, PDO, organic or integrated production standards.
A dedicated Frutta nelle scuole website produced by Mipaaf has also been unveiled, offering information about the scheme.
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