Background

According to the World Health Organization, an adequate intake of fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases, stroke and certain cancers. To promote the consumption of fruit, the Department of Health (DH) had organised the “Joyful Fruit Day” event annually since the 2006/07 school year to encourage students to eat a sufficient amount of fruit every day. In the 2012/13 school year, the event was upgraded to the “Joyful Fruit Month”. Since then, April has been established as the “Joyful Fruit Month” every year. Nevertheless, healthy eating habits ought to be developed since childhood, and there are still rooms for improvement in the consumption of fruit and vegetables among students in Hong Kong. As such, the event will be officially upgraded to the “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month” in the 2025/26 school year. The aim is to raise students’ awareness towards a sufficient intake of fruit and vegetables as well as healthy eating, and to encourage them to take action.

Organiser, Co-organisers and Supporting Organisations

The “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month” is organised by the DH; co-organised by the Education Bureau, the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, the Hong Kong Education City, and the Hong Kong College of Cardiology; and supported by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Jump Rope for Heart Program, the Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 1, and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations in all districts in Hong Kong.

Purpose and Theme

The “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month” aims to create a favourable environment through home-school co-operation for students to develop a habit of eating a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables every day. All schools are encouraged to systematically organise year-round promotional activities to boost students’ interest in consuming fruit and vegetables, and to push the mood to a climax during the “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month” in April. This school year’s “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month” will take place in April 2026. With “The Fruit and Veg Duo, Your Health-Boosting Combo” as the theme cum slogan, the event continues to promote the message that “eating fruit and vegetables every day is good for our health”.