Students Sampling Unusual Fruits and Veggies

Several APS elementary schools are taking part in a national program that introduces kids to produce they may not be familiar with.

Ten APS elementary schools are participating in the national Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program designed to introduce students to food that might not otherwise have an opportunity to taste. Foods like blood oranges, tri-colored carrots, watermelon radishes, snap peas, kiwi berries, kumquats, purple and green cauliflower, even rambutan (look it up!) Some of the produce is locally grown.

The produce, some of which is locally grown, is prepared and distributed by APS Food and Nutrition Services. Students snack on the fruits and vegetables either before or after breakfast and lunch.

The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments by expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience. "Offering a wide variety of produce can make a difference in children’s diets," said Sandra Kemp, executive director of APS Food and Nutrition Services. 

APS schools include:

• Painted Sky
• Armijo
• Mission
• Inez
• Duranes
• Lew Wallace
• Alamosa
• George Sanchez
• E.G. Ross
• Barcelona