Sep 15, 2009 5:32 pm US/Eastern
Md. School Lunches Include Homegrown Food
http://www.mda.state.md.us/mdfarmtoschool/index.php
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
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More fresh local produce is ending up in school lunches.
AP
Children have been saying "yuck" to brussels sprouts and spinach for years, but are partial to peaches and plums.
Suzanne Collins reports on a plan to put more fresh local produce in school lunches.
There were local veggies on the pizza bagels at Hebron Harman school Tuesday and a display of melons and other fresh fruits. This kicks off a program to put local produce on the school lunch menu.
"I'm not a good fan of brussels sprouts. I really love fruit though, like oranges and apples," said student Brandon Johnson.
The "Farm to School" program includes lessons on where food comes from before it hits the grocery store.
The wife of the USDA chief, an Iowan, tells students a cow can produce 150 glasses of milk a day.
"Young people just like here, even in Iowa, grow up thinking food comes from the grocery store and don't realize people in Maryland and all over the country make a living growing fruits and vegetables," said Christie Vilsack.
The plan is to get local produce into the school food supply on a regular basis.
"It brings fresher produce to the people, instead of something being harvested a week ago, like sweet corn," said farmer Ridgely Boyer.
The idea is to help local farmers financially, help children have a better diet, but also to prevent trucks from having to travel and use all that fuel from one end of the country to the other.
"It's a win-win. As you may know, local producers often struggle to find markets and compete with the larger producer of fruits, vegetables and commodities," said Julie Paradis with the USDA Nutrition Program.
"When you're eating from a box in the store, they have, like, really salty stuff. Farms, they don't really add stuff to it, so it's really healthy," said student Pooja Patel.
To find local farms, menus or educational materials, click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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