The 2016 expansion of the Fruit in Schools initiative has meant six new schools in Whanganui, Rangitikei and Ruapehu region now have access to daily fresh fruit and vegetables for their children.
Fruit in Schools is a government funded initiative that started in 2005 with 60 schools and has progressed to 547 schools across the country, reaching more than 100,000 students in low decile schools.
The latest increase follows the Ministry of Education's decile rating changes - with all 23 qualifying schools in the area continuing with the programme. Kakatahi, Orautoha, St Marcellin, Taoroa, St Matthews and Upokongaro schools have now joined the programme reaching a further 236 students.
Orautoha school principal Robyn Brider said Fruit in Schools has made a huge difference to children.
"Most of our whanau would struggle to be able to afford fresh fruit for their tamariki, so probably the first advantage is that each of our tamariki now have fresh fruit available to them every week."