"Taste Washington Day" features locally grown food for lunch - By Beth Thiel

"Taste Washington Day" features locally grown food for lunch - By Beth Thiel

A budding Farm to School Program is taking a big step forward next week for "Taste Washington Day". Wednesday September 26 , all 10 WW public schools will be serving a roast chicken lunch with locally grown fruits and vegetables including corn on the cob from Walla Walla Produce Company, John Zerba and Taruscio Farm, pluots from Key Farm, pears from Taruscio Farm, tomatoes from Edwards Farm, carrots from Welcome Table Farm and a pasta salad made with bell peppers from Walla Walla Produce Company.

There are many positive reasons to eat locally grown food. Produce is picked ripe so it tastes great and provides maximum nutrient content, and purchasing local food supports local families.

In addition to this lunch, locally produced foods will be featured throughout the year in a "Harvest of the Month" program. Peaches have been highlighted this week. Students have been eating them so fast that extra boxes were ordered to get through the week! These peaches come from Edwards Farm, where a large variety of fruits and vegetables are grown and sold to local restaurants and through Edwards produce stand on the Old Milton Highway.

Through school gardens, field trips and farmer visits to schools, the Farm to School Program will strive to educate students about our local food system. Look for information about the farmers that supply our school district posted in the cafeterias.

As of July 2012, every school participating in the national school lunch program must serve a portion of fruit or vegetable to every student joining in school lunch each day. Serving this delicious local produce may help students consume the extra fruits and veggies they are now required to take on their tray.

The Nutrition Services staff has been working hard to apply the new lunch standards in addition to implementing the Farm to School program. Please show your support for these changes by ensuring your student is eating school lunch on September 26 and joining them in the cafeteria. While there, let the staff know how much you appreciate their work.

If you'd like to know more about the new school lunch standards, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/healthierschoolday/