Press Release August 26 th 2013
100 NZ schools, 30,000 children eating fresh seasonal produce
30,000 children in over 100 schools have now experienced the Kids Can Cook Kitchen as it travels from the top of the
North Island to the bottom of the South Island. There has been no shortage of volunteers for sous chefs and chief taste
testers as the now 12 month old Kids Can Cook Kitchen serves up mountains of green snotty vegetables in an interactive
and social kitchen experience.
Founder and professional chef Chris Fortune says, “This is the most satisfying position I have held for many years after
working in luxury hotels in England and on super yachts in Fiji. The response and enthusiasm from NZ school children,
the ability to teach and communicate basic cooking skills using fresh garden produce, is humbling and I am privileged to
be offered the opportunity to give back to the next generation of cooks, gardeners and foodies.”
With support from Interislander Ferries, Marketground Website providers, Marlborough Farmers’ Market, various community
organisation's and District Health Boards, the Kids Can Cook Kitchen project have been able to achieve milestones such
as a purpose-built mobile kitchen that operates independently in all regions of NZ, linking to and complimenting school
edible gardens and environ school programmes. The Kids Can Cook Kitchen is offering a nutrition and healthy eating
programme to all age groups in Primary, Intermediate, High School and College’s in a fun and informative environment.
The Kids Can Cook Kitchen is now celebrating its first 12 months of operating in all decile schools, highlights being
Manurewa High School with its Mana, Timaru and Waimate with their District Health Board initiatives and Canvastown
School, who proudly named the Kitchen. Chef and presenter of the Kids Can Cook Kitchen programme, Chris Fortune,
realises the importance of the programme and the need to continue to link and compliment the many initiatives operating
in our NZ schools. He is now inviting interested partners and sponsors to jump on board this very exciting project that
will continue to sow the seeds in the next generation, our children.
ends