Grant Puts Farm Fresh Foods in JMC Schools
JACKSON, Tenn.–Jackson-Madison County Schools received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture that will put fresh fruits and vegetables on the table. Students at Arlington International Leadership School eat healthy. “Carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower,” said Susie Murchison, field manager. Starting next week, the school will give students an extra dose of fruit and vegetables. “Just because they’re healthy doesn’t mean they have to taste bad,” said Joy Rast, bookkeeper at Arlington. The USDA gave the district $156,550 to pay for the food. Students at Arlington and six other schools will get a healthy snack. “We’re trying to teach them that there are you know good fruits and vegetables and that they can like them just as much as they do chips,” said Susan Johnson, School Nutrition Food Service Director. The district said 76 percent of its students receive free or reduced lunch. The money goes to schools with the greatest need. At Arlington, staff give students fun facts about the fruit or vegetable they get to sample. “If they know more about them they’ll be more likely to try them,” said Rast. Cafeteria workers also aim to make the food look appealing. “They eat with their eyes,” said Murchison. The district encourages parents to ask their children about the healthy snack.
