Elementary students enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2024 - 7:00pm

Last week’s Thanksgiving meals were a big hit at all of Weiser’s schools. Fourth grade teacher Jessica Mosley, left, is pictured with friends and students during Thursday’s dinner. Students at both Park Intermediate and Pioneer Elementary are also enjoying daily fresh fruit and vegetable snacks, thanks to a USDA grant that funds the program across the nation. Photo by Nancy Grindstaff
By: 
Nancy Grindstaff
 Weiser’s Pioneer Elementary and Park Intermediate schools, along with Cambridge Elementary, are among 150 elementary schools across Idaho that are enjoying fresh fruit and vegetable snacks this school year, thanks to grants awarded from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 As the new school year was about to open in August, Weiser School District’s Food Services Director Rachel Thatcher told WSD’s board of trustees her USDA grant applications were successful for the 2024-2025 year, with Park School receiving $16,960, and Pioneer $31,275. 
Cambridge Elementary received $4,350 for the upper country district’s 70 grade schoolers.
 Although the program can reach sixth grade level students, Weiser’s funds purchase fresh fruits and vegetables as an extra snack during the school day for students in grades kindergarten to fifth.
 “Because our sixth grade is in the middle school, we just do Park and Pioneer,” Thatcher told the Signal American. “I have worked for the district for almost six years, and we have participated in the fresh fruit and vegetable program for as long as I have worked here.”
 Thatcher said her assistant director, Beth Quinton, orders the fruits and vegetables from Grasmick Produce.
 “She orders it a week ahead, at least, and then we receive reimbursement (from USDA) when she submits the claim for the month,” Thatcher said.
 She added the grant application process isn’t too difficult.
 “But, we do have to complete one for each building,” she added. “The program’s purpose is to encourage kids to try new and different fruits and vegetables that they may not normally have access to.”
 According to the USDA website, the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program (FFVP) began as a pilot in the early 2000s, was expanded in both 2004 and 2006, and went nationwide in 2008.
 Elementary schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to participate, but must operate the National School Lunch Program to qualify. The FFVP prioritizes schools with the highest percentage of children certified as eligible for free and reduced price meals, the website states.
 The grants run from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

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