IDAHO—We may take it for granted that fruits and vegetables are available to us every day. But for some Idaho students, they don’t even know what they are.
One elementary school student in south central Idaho was first introduced to fresh fruits and vegetables at their school.
The student’s teacher sent a letter to the Idaho Department of Education’s Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program coordinator Pamela Murray, saying the program helped the student’s eating habits and willingness to try new foods.
“The student learned how to peel a banana and an orange and that you aren’t supposed to eat the peel,” Murray said. “They learned how deliciously crunchy apples and carrots are. The student had no idea how good strawberries and raspberries are. They also learned that corn is their favorite thing to eat. Above all else, they’ve experienced all new life-changing experiences.”
This student encountered fruit and vegetables because of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program the state runs.
Murray says the goal of the program is simple:
“The goal is to increase students’ consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, expand the variety of fruits and vegetables that children experience, positively impact their future health and create healthier school environments by providing healthier choices for students.”
The program targets lower-income areas, but any elementary school that qualifies is invited to apply. The school must operate the National School Lunch Program, have more than 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, submit the completed applications and provide a certificate of support.
“If you don’t have transportation to the grocery store 45 minutes away or time to get there or the funds to get there and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and you can only go to the gas station closer to home that typically doesn’t have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, your students have the opportunity to try them at school where the kids are going to benefit,” Murray said.
Murray says the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program assists students like the one in south central Idaho gain access to food they otherwise wouldn’t have at home, easing the anxiety of trying new foods and making them comfortable and confident in giving new things a chance.
“I know without a doubt that the Fresh Fruit and Veggie Program changes students’ views on food for the better,” Murray said. “That testimonial right there is why this program exists and continues to receive funding from Congress to keep it going.”
To learn more about the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, you can head over to the Idaho Department of Education’s website.