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Yummy! .. fresh fruit, vegetables

^{July 6, 2010}

Dragon fruit, gold kiwi, sundrop tomatoes, pluots, apriums- these are some of the exotic fruits and vegetables that students at Boevers, Briarglen, Clark, Grove, McAuliffe, and Rosa Parks will be eating during the 2010-2011 school year.

These six Union Public Schools will be participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Issues such as rising obesity rates in children, over abundance of over-processed foods, lack of availability and high costs of fresh produce will be addressed by the implementation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Providing fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school day and engaging students in nutrition education to learn about the importance of these foods in their diets are the two main areas of emphasis in this program. Daily fresh fruit and vegetable snacks will include items such as seasonal blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, grape tomatoes, and asparagus.

Monthly nutrition education classes and daily “sound bite” announcements will be offered by Child Nutrition to teach students about the relevance of fresh produce to their health. Union Public Schools will be awarded a total of $175, 235 for the purchase and preparation of fresh produce. Funding for this program is provided through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

We are very excited about the great opportunities our students will receive from this program! We expect to see some positive, life-changing health behaviors developed by students as a result, as well as new-found knowledge and experiences that lead to engaged learning.

Awards for this program are based on the grant application, the percentage of free and reduced qualifying students at the school, and the ability of the school to implement the plans and programs.

Lisa Griffin
Director of Child Nutrition

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