VegPower’s Growing to Love Helps 100,000 Children

100,000 CHILDREN ACROSS THE UK HAVE BENEFITED FROM VEG POWER’S ‘GROWING TO LOVE’ CAMPAIGN

2026 evaluation confirms that Growing to Love is fun, easy-to-deliver and curriculum-compliant while supporting vegetable acceptance and learning.

Wednesday 3 September 2026 // Veg Power announced today that over the last four years, 100,000 primary school children across the UK have benefited from its ‘Growing to Love’ campaign. This year, 25,000 children across 387 schools participated, with the post campaign evaluation revealing that the hands-on, curriculum-compliant growing project supports vegetable acceptance and learning, while being fun and easy-to-deliver. Importantly, 100% of participating schools wanted to repeat the experience in 2027 highlighting the growing project’s success.

Other key statistics from the 2026 evaluation involving 89 schools found:
● 100% of teachers said their pupils really enjoyed it
● 98% said the programme was easy to deliver
● 90% of teachers said it helped them to deliver the curriculum
● 77% said their pupils were more willing to eat tomatoes.

Teachers who participated in the campaign were also enthusiastic about the campaign, stating:

“We have found the Veg Power resources to be engaging, easy to use and highly effective in encouraging children to try and enjoy a wider range of vegetables. The campaigns support our school’s commitment to healthy lifestyles and provide excellent links to the curriculum.”

“Thank you for an amazing opportunity for our children. We look forward to participating again next year!”

“Absolutely amazing. The children have loved everything from planting to completing the sticker charts! Fantastic resources.”

From Planting Tomato Plants to Tasting the Results

#GrowingtoLove started in the summer term with pupils taking ownership and responsibility for growing their own tomato plants, looking after them at home during the school holidays and are set to enjoy ripe, delicious tomatoes anytime soon. As with previous years, the campaign was supported by a range of experts including TV and radio presenter, Sam Nixon and former Blue Peter Gardener, Chris Collins. Veg Power’s ongoing collaboration with Aardman Animation, saw Shaun the Sheep also featuring in the campaign.

Bringing Growing to Life with Veg Power and Shaun the Sheep

Commenting on Growing to Love, Dan Parker, Chief Executive, Veg Power, said, “We’ve run Growing to Love for four years now and we are so pleased that 100,000 children across the UK have now experienced this fun, hands-on activity that importantly supports their learning and vegetable acceptance. We designed the campaign to be fun and easy to implement for busy teachers and as 100% of teachers said their pupils really enjoyed it and 100% of schools want to repeat the experience, we can safely say the campaign has been a great success! All of this would not be possible without the support we have received including growers and retailers and, of course, Shaun the Sheep.”