The national campaign to encourage Australians to increase their vegetable intake received attention last week when Ausveg hosted the Great Vegetable Cook-Off at Parliament House in Canberra. The event took place during the Australian Vegetable Industry Showcase and brought together parliamentarians, vegetable growers, and chef Matt Moran.
© AUSVEG
Hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP, the event allowed MPs and Senators to meet vegetable producers and marked the launch of the "Pledge for More Veg," part of the national Plus One Serve program. The program, led by Ausveg and funded by Hort Innovation, aims to help Australians increase their vegetable consumption by one serve per day by 2030.
According to Ausveg, Australians currently consume an average of 1.8 serves of vegetables per day. The Plus One Serve initiative is designed to address this gap, promoting both public health and the long-term sustainability of the vegetable sector.
During the cook-off, Matt Moran guided two teams, one of parliamentarians and one of growers, through a cooking challenge using seasonal produce. The dish featured preserved vegetables with goat's curd, Sicilian olive oil, and oregano dressing.
Auasveg CEO Michael Coote said, "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."
He added that difficult business conditions continue to challenge vegetable producers, making domestic demand an important factor for industry stability.
The Pledge for More Veg forms part of the Plus One Serve program and encourages Australians to increase their daily vegetable intake.
Participants in the Great Vegetable Cook-Off included Agriculture Minister Julie Collins MP, Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi MP, and Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell MP. The event concluded with thanks to Matt Moran for leading the activity and to Speaker Milton Dick MP for hosting.
For more information:
Andrew MacDonald
AUSVEG
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9882 0277
Email: [email protected]
www.ausveg.com.au
