Crunchy Beans and Fuzzy Peaches

Many elementary schoolchildren have no idea that green beans are bright green and crunchy, and that unpeeled peaches are fuzzy. These are only two of the reasons why fresh local fruits and vegetables should be incorporated into the diets of children through school meals.

A December 1st workshop on Farm-to-School Initiatives brought together a variety of experts to discuss the methods they have used to bring healthful fresh produce and nutrition education to Pennsylvania and New Jersey schoolchildren.

Patrick Temple-West, Director of Nutritional Development Services for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, sees potential for more fresh foods in Pennsylvania schools. "What's important is reaching out and cultivating partnerships with producers." Temple-West cited the importance of organizations like Red Tomato, which acts as an intermediary between growers and schools.

One problem facing school food service directors is that "buying local" puts constraints on what is purchased due to the short growing season in Pennsylvania. Temple-West expressed optimism that progress is being made in that regard, citing improved storage methods by apple growers like Beekman Orchards from Berks County. He also is a strong believer in the value of nutrition education within the school. (See - The Carrot Lady.)

In New Jersey the Department of Defense (DOD) has partnered with schools to increase the utilization of locally grown produce. The DOD is no stranger to school food distribution, having delivered government surplus foods for many years to school districts for school breakfast and lunch programs. Because DOD purchases and distributes such a high volume, it also can make produce available to school districts at lower prices.

Dominic Ritardi of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) works with DOD personnel to coordinate a fresh produce program for New Jersey's 640 school districts. Partial truckloads of fresh produce are delivered to two warehouses in the state either daily or on a weekly basis. Ritardi encouraged school food service directors to take some of their federal and state monies and buy locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables.

Hope Holland (also of the NJDA) described a New Jersey Fresh Produce Academy for school food service directors to help them incorporate fresh produce into school menus. (See Sidebar - Fresh Produce Academy.) Holland stated, "We try to be more creative in what we offer kids, like carrots cut into animal shapes and other kid-friendly produce presentations."

For information about incorporating fresh produce into schools through the DOD program go to www.dscp.dla.nil, then choose the category"Subsistence".

Erinn Hill, Nutrition Educator for the Nutritional Development Services (NDS) in Philadelphia, shows elementary school children that eating fruits and vegetables is definitely "cool"

Erinn Hill, Nutrition Educator for the Nutritional Development Services (NDS) in Philadelphia, shows elementary school children that eating fruits and vegetables is definitely "cool". Her bag of tricks includes a three-foot high orange carrot hat and a broccoli t-shirt that she sometimes wears to talk to children in their schools and childcare centers. Her manner is warm, commanding, and friendly…just the type of personality that would charm a child into choosing raw broccoli over orange juice.

The Carrot Lady

Erinn utilizes a system of rewards (stickers, carrot pens, etc.) to entice children into trying new foods. She creates edible pictures with raw vegetables that the children can re-create for themselves and then eat. Her successes are documented by menu planning staff, demonstrating that when the presentation is "kid-friendly", kids will eat the "darndest" things.

The program is financed through the Nutrition Education Plan (NEP) which provides monies for nutrition education activities for organizations that have matching funds. For information about the NEP call (814) 863-0020.

Fresh Produce Academies

School Food Service Directors in New Jersey have the opportunity to attend Fresh Produce Academies to augment their skills in the presentation and marketing of fresh food to schoolchildren

School Food Service Directors in New Jersey have the opportunity to attend Fresh Produce Academies to augment their skills in the presentation and marketing of fresh food to schoolchildren. The program is based on the 5-A-Day Initiative and the Food Guide Pyramid and is designed to help directors increase fresh food consumption by schoolchildren. These topics were included:

For more information about how to design a Fresh Produce Academy for food service directors, call Ronnie DeLaCruz with Tanimura and Antel at 1-800-772-4542 X 4003.

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