Graduate Projects

Getting Orange Juice into primary schools: 2006

Project:
Use unwanted fruit to educate children on the health benefits of children.

Participant:
Amanda Beevers, SS Citrus Supply, Dareton, New South Wales.

Aims:
To educate the younger generation on the health benefits of citrus and encourage consumption by installing juicing machines into primary schools.          

Background:
Due to global markets and seasonal impacts there are times when there are excess oranges which are used for animal feed or left to rot on the ground.  It was believed that there are more creative and constructive uses of such a valuable resource.

Approach:

• Sought support from local industry.
• Negotiated with a school to trial the juicing machine.
• A local supplier provided a machine and demonstrated to children the process from
  fruit to juice.
• Accessed sponsorship from industry organisations and businesses to develop promotional bags to school children. Bags included a drink bottle, cap, brochures and orange peeler.
• Capitalised on the interest shown in the project to do media interviews and promote the concept of introducing juicing machines into more schools.
• Interest from many other local schools.

Challenges:

• Confidence to take the initiative to embark on the project.
• No experience of undertaking such a project before.
• Accessing sponsorship.

Outcomes:

• Sponsorship to install a juicing machine into one school.
• Positive promotion of the citrus industry.
• Commencement of the process of educating children about the health benefits of citrus fruit