Croatia Awarded €1.3 Million for Free Fruit & Vegetables in Schools Scheme

Croatia has been awarded 1.3 million euros for its free fruit and vegetables for school children programme, the European Commission announced yesterday…

The European Union has allocated 150 million euros to 25 countries to implement free fruit and vegetable schemes in the 2015/2016 school year, with Croatia receiving 1,360,845 euros. Over 200,000 kids from close to 900 primary schools in Croatia will be eating fruit and vegetables free for lunch in the next school year as part of the programme. EU funds will cover 90% of the programme with the remaining 10% financed by the Croatian government or private firms.

The aim of the School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme is to prevent and reduce childhood obesity by making sure fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables in available in the daily nutrition of school children. The programme involves children from the 1st to the 8th grade of primary schools in Croatia. (image / europe.eu)