New Pledge for More Veg initiative aims to boost Australian vegetable consumption as part of the Plus One Serve programme
Ausveg has joined Parliamentarians, vegetable growers and renowned Australian chef Matt Moran for the Great Vegetable Cook-Off, during the Australian Vegetable Industry Showcase at Parliament House in Canberra.
The event, hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick, was an opportunity for MPs and senators to meet with growers, and also featured the launch of the ‘Pledge for More Veg’ as part of the Plus One Serve programme.
With Australians on average eating just 1.8 serves of vegetables daily, Plus One Serve is a national, evidence-based programme led by Ausveg and funded by Hort Innovation to help every Australian eat one extra serve of vegetables each day by 2030. According to Ausveg, the programme offers A$4.7bn in triple-bottom-line benefits to national health, the economy, and growers in the national vegetable industry.
During the Great Vegetable Cook-Off, Matt Moran coached a team of politicians and a team of vegetable growers through a cooking challenge. The Cook-Off dish, conceived by Matt Moran, was preserved seasonal vegetables, goats curd, Sicilian olive and oregano dressing, which highlighted Australian vegetables.
“The Great Vegetable Cook-Off was a light-hearted challenge with a serious message. If we want to ensure Australian families continue to have access to the fresh and nutritious array of Aussie-grown vegetables they currently enjoy year-round, then we need to drive demand and lift consumption,” said Ausveg CEO Michael Coote.
“Challenging business conditions continue to leave many growers contemplating their future business viability, but encouraging more Australians to eat Aussie-grown veggies is not only good for their health, but also for securing the future of the national vegetable industry, and the broader economy.”
He added that the Australian Vegetable Industry Showcase was a key opportunity to highlight the importance of all Australians eating more vegetables.
“We are grateful to all the growers and parliamentarians who attended, and extend our thanks to Matt Moran, and speaker Milton Dick, for hosting this highly-successful event.”
