Fifth of British children have no idea apples grow on trees

Mother of two Katie Piper said: “I’m really excited to be working with HONEST kids to encourage more families to get outdoors this summer, visit their local pick-your-own fruit farms and learn more about how fruit is grown.

“A pick-your-own fruit picnic is a great summer activity to do together as a family and a fun way to re-engage with nature whilst also learning a little more about where our food comes from.”

The study found four in 10 baffled little Brits think cherries originate from bushes, vines or plants, while 14 per cent think melons grow under the ground.

More than nine in 10 kids have no idea how strawberries or cranberries are grown.

Just under half of those polled were confused about where plums came from, 53 per cent don’t know how apricots are grown and 88 per cent are baffled about the origin of pineapples.

Researchers also found the average British child eats up to 10 pieces of fruit a week, with bananas the top choice (32 per cent), followed by grapes (28 per cent), apples (25 per cent), mangoes and pineapples (13 per cent).

But despite a relatively healthy consumption of fruit, even by their teenage years, some children don’t have a clear understanding of where it grows.

It also emerged three in 10 kids have never picked their own fruit before and three in four haven’t ever visited an orchard.

However, four in 10 DO want to visit a fruit farm this summer to learn more.

PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO DON’T KNOW WHERE THE FOLLOWING FRUITS GROW:
Kiwi – 96 per cent
Raspberries – 96 per cent
Strawberries – 95 per cent
Cranberries – 94 per cent
Bananas – 93 per cent
Pineapples – 88 per cent
Grapes – 59 per cent
Apricots – 53 per cent
Blackcurrants – 50 per cent
Satsumas – 46 per cent
Blackberries – 45 per cent
Plums – 44 per cent
Limes – 44 per cent
Cherries – 41 per cent
Lemons – 41 per cent
Peaches – 40 per cent
Pears – 33 per cent
Mangoes – 34 per cent
Oranges – 26 per cent
Coconuts – 26 per cent
Apples – 21 per cent