THE formation of a fruit and vegetable consortium is the latest move to try to increase Australia's consumption of fresh produce.
The Fruit & Vegetable Consortium was launched publicly last week, backed by key organisations to collectively push for comprehensive action to address the nation's complacency about eating fruits and vegetables.
The group has more than 50 organisations that have pledged their support since launching to industry four weeks ago.
The launch comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has prompted many consumers to reassess their food-buying behaviour.
The Fruit & Vegetable Consortium is collaborating to investigate options to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, including one project to develop a behaviour change program that will work to increase vegetable consumption among Australians to improve their health and well-being.
Ms Hancock said lifting fruit and vegetable consumption was not only critical to improving the nutrition and health of the public but also a way to reduce government expenditure.
"Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to protect against high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes and some cancers," Ms Hancock said.
"This consortium was born out of a common imperative to increase fruit and vegetable consumption with the aim of improving health outcomes for Australians and their families."
Ausveg CEO James Whiteside said it was important growers worked with health professionals, researchers and other organisations to develop and promote programs that will meaningfully change behaviours to increase consumption of vegetables and fruits.
"Growers are deeply committed to increasing vegetable consumption among Australians of all ages and are keen to work alongside the food and health industries to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians," Mr Whiteside said.
"The health benefits of increasing vegetable consumption are well-documented, but the rates of consumption are still unacceptably low. We need to work together to pool our research, knowledge and passion to remedy this.
"If every Australian ate an additional half a cup of vegetables per day, government health expenditure would reduce by an estimated $100 million per year."