A poll of 500 children aged 6-11 found a significant knowledge gap about where food comes from, with some believing fruit and veg originate in shops
One in five children believe fruits and vegetables originate in shops. A poll of 500 children aged 6–11 revealed a stark knowledge gap when it comes to where food actually comes from. Despite many being aware that fruit and veg are grown on farms, plants and trees, others believe they come from market stalls and greengrocers.
It also emerged that 17% think broccoli are miniature trees, while 11% believe their five-a-day comes from animals.
Of all the children surveyed, further confusion around food origins included not knowing that bananas and apples grow on trees. Meanwhile, 30% were unaware that tomatoes are harvested from plants.
Similarly, four in 10 didn’t know potatoes grew underground, and 42% were equally in the dark about carrots. Others had no idea that certain foods are derived from animals, including cheese, sausages and eggs. Remarkably, one in 10 six-to-eight-year-olds think crumpets are an animal product.
The research was commissioned by HelloFresh, which has teamed up with gardener Gerald Stratford, renowned for growing giant vegetables.
Together they are launching ‘The Curious Kitchen’, an immersive family experience designed to help children reconnect with ingredients and mealtimes at the Natural History Museum this summer.
Mimi Morley, senior recipe developer for the meal kit delivery service said: “Kids say the funniest things and this research shows that. They have logic in their thoughts, especially that broccoli are mini trees, but there is definitely some confusion around where things come from before they reach the shops.”
“Younger generations are so used to having most things, including foods, readily available, that it’s easy for them to forget about the seed to plate journey before that,” Mimi added.
“Gerald seemed like the perfect partner to teach youngsters how to harvest their own fruit and veg, help them prepare ingredients and develop their knowledge around where produce comes from.”
The children’s parents were also surveyed, via OnePoll, with 90% feeling confident about knowing where foods come from. But 43% have struggled to answer a question from their children about where certain ingredients originate.
Pasta (32%), broccoli (25%) and yoghurt (23%) are considered the most challenging to explain in terms of how they go from ‘field to fork’.
However, amongst all those surveyed, many grow fruits and vegetables themselves, most commonly tomatoes (55%), potatoes (37%) and carrots (34%). A quarter believe their child is more likely to eat their five-a-day if they’ve grown it themselves.
Gerald Stratford said: “I’ve spent years growing vegetables because I believe there’s something magical about watching food grow. But food doesn’t simply appear in shops or on our plates – every ingredient has a story behind it.
“We’re keen to help families explore that journey together and spark children’s curiosity, inspire them to ask questions and perhaps even want to get green thumbs of their own.”
- TOP 15 PLACES KIDS THINK FRUIT & VEGETABLES COME FROM: Farms Plants Trees Grown in the ground Fields Bushes/shrubs Shops Markets stalls Greengrocers Animals Factories In the sea In the river The sky In ponds