One in five kids think fruits and vegetables originate in shops

ONE in five children think fruits and vegetables originate in shops and a third have no idea how bananas are grown. A poll of 500 6–11-year-olds revealed youngsters’ knowledge around where food comes from, with 17 per cent thinking broccoli are simply small trees. One in five children think fruits and vegetables originate in shops and a third have no idea how bananas are grown Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep Nearly a fifth of children think broccoli stalks are simply small trees Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep Despite many being aware fruit and veg come from farms (74 per cent), plants (74 per cent) and trees (65 per cent), others think they originate from market stalls (15 per cent) and greengrocers (14 per cent). While 11 per cent even believe their five-a-day come from animals, with this increasing to 15 per cent among six-to-eight-year-olds. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Of all children polled, more confusion around where foods originate included not knowing bananas (36 per cent) and apples (17 per cent) grow on trees. Meanwhile, 30 per cent weren’t aware tomatoes are harvested from plants. Around 11 per cent of children think their five-a-day come from animals Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep Over a third of children have no idea where bananas come from Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep Similarly, four in 10 didn’t know potatoes grew out of the ground and 42 per cent had the same uncertainty around carrots. Others weren’t aware certain foods come from animals including cheese (41 per cent), sausages (38 per cent) and eggs (13 per cent). But one in 10 (11 per cent) six-to-eight-year-olds think crumpets are an animal product. The research was commissioned by HelloFresh, which has partnered with the gardener known for growing giant veg, Gerald Stratford. Most read in The Sun Together they are launching ‘The Curious Kitchen’, an immersive family experience helping children reconnect with ingredients and dinnertime 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. “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 research also found 68 per cent of children aged between six and eight didn’t know kiwis grew on plants, instead believing they grow straight from the ground, in water or magically appear in the shops. However, among all those polled, many grow fruits and vegetables themselves, most commonly tomatoes (55 per cent), potatoes (37 per cent) and carrots (34 per cent). The children’s parents were also polled, via OnePoll, and found 90 per cent are confident knowing where foods come from. But 43 per cent have struggled to answer a question from their children about where certain ingredients originate. Pasta (32 per cent), broccoli (25 per cent) and yoghurt (23 per cent) are seen as the most difficult to explain how they go from ‘field to fork’. While 78 per cent think the dinner table is the best place to have conversations with their kids about where food comes from, 47 per cent have home-grown fruit and veg to teach their child. A further 25 per cent have harvested their own produce to give their youngster something to focus on, with a quarter also believing 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 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 Comment now