A poll of 500 children aged 6–11 has revealed a stark knowledge gap about where food comes from, with one in five believing fruits and vegetables originate in shops.
Despite many being aware that fruit and veg are grown on farms, plants and trees, others think they come from market stalls and greengrocers. The research also found that 17% of children think broccoli are miniature trees, while 11% believe their five-a-day comes from animals.
Confusion about common foods
Further confusion around food origins included children not knowing that bananas and apples grow on trees, and 30% being unaware that tomatoes are harvested from plants. Four in 10 didn't know potatoes grow underground, and 42% were equally in the dark about carrots. Some children 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 Curious Kitchen launch
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," Morley 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."
Parents also surveyed
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%) were considered the most challenging to explain in terms of how they go from 'field to fork'.
Among 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."
