Plan is food for thought

A LANDMARK $300,000 healthy eating initiative designed to improve access to affordable, nutritious food was launched in Pakenham last week.
The joint Cardinia Shire and City of Casey Sprouting New Ideas initiative was announced in March, when the councils received a VicHealth funding grant for the program.
After six months of intensive planning, the program was launched on Wednesday with the unveiling of a raft of strategies to improve food options across the region.
Project officer Gabrielle Castillo said the region was an ideal launching pad for the program.
“We grow a lot of food, but much of it is sold outside the CardiniaCasey region,” she said.
“We also have a lot of young families on tight budgets, who are often timepoor, as well as many residents living in isolated areas with little access to fresh food shopping outlets and limited public transport.”
Ms Castillo said the project aimed to:
•Improve [S]’#’line ‘" access to healthy food choices;
•Increase the availability of healthy food at retail outlets;
•Incorporate food production and nutrition into the school curriculum, and improve access to fruit and vegetables in local schools;
•Increase awareness of food production with schoolaged students and isolated children;
•Develop of a food distribution program in partnership with local producers and local service agencies to cater for geographically isolated people.
A working group to implement the project will comprise council staff, service providers, primary schools, local producers, consumers and transport agencies.
Plans are also in place to develop a ‘Choosing Healthier Options’ CHOICE awards in Casey/Cardinia. The program has already been successfully established in Casey and will be adopted in Cardinia. Expressions of interest are being sought from farmers, shops, organisations and schools interested in getting involved in the project.