Flint River Fresh delivers locally grown treats to students
May 12—ALBANY — April and May have been "berry" good months for students in the Dougherty County School System. Georgia-grown strawberries provided an extra boost of nutrition in the school system's cafeteria meals to support cognitive health and to prepare students for state testing.
Flint River Fresh partnered with Beyond Harvest Foods and Dougherty County Schools School Nutrition Services to bring 3,150 pounds of Georgia-grown strawberries from Dickey Farms in Musella to all 22 Schools in the Dougherty County School System, an effort to encourage a sustainable, local food system, and to introduce students to produce that is grown in their own region.
"Increasing the level of healthy foods students consume may help with students' test scores," Blaine Allen, director of DCSS School Nutrition, said. "While students were able to enjoy fresh strawberries with their school lunches all throughout April and May, School Nutrition's main focus was to serve fresh, locally grown produce during testing weeks, which occurred through the end of April and beginning of May.
"Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds. According to the CDC, there is evidence linking healthy eating to student concentration, memory, and mood, and to academic achievement, which encompasses academic performance through class grades, standardized testing, and graduation rates."
Allen added that there were other benefits.
"When the School Nutrition Department can purchase fresh Strawberries & Blueberries from a local, Georgia-grown farmer, we reduce our carbon footprint."
Strawberries were the featured fruit in April for the Georgia Department of Nutrition's Harvest of the Month program. This campaign supports local farmers while building the capacity to connect schools to local producers.
Not only were students served fresh strawberries with their school lunches, they were also provided opportunities to "taste-test" special strawberry-based treats. Radium Springs Elementary School's kindergarten classes were served strawberry frozen yogurt. Ron Bell, along with Radium Springs Elementary's School Nutrition staff, prepared the strawberry frozen yogurt from locally grown fresh strawberries, Greek yogurt and honey.
Flint River Fresh and DCSS School Nutrition plan to add blueberries to the mix throughout the month of May.
These opportunities for taste-tests and usage of local produce in the schools encourages continued partnership between Flint River Fresh and DCSS School Nutrition, through Flint River Fresh's Farm to School Youth Agriculture & Conservation Education Initiative. This initiative, through an NCRS Technical Assistance Grant, supports active garden projects at multiple elementary schools in the Dougherty County School System and expands educational outcomes to include knowledge about where food comes from, importance of soil health, germination rate, garden maintenance, and safe harvesting practices.
This program is supported through collaborative partnerships among Flint River Fresh, Dougherty County Cooperative Extension, the National Farmers Union, Albany Recreation and Parks Department, 4C Academy, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, The Georgia Farm Bureau, Dougherty County School System, and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. Individuals and organizations provide subject matter, guidance and support throughout the various phases of the program.
Flint River Fresh is a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to make fresh, locally-grown produce accessible and affordable for people throughout the Flint River Region, while empowering community and youths through education and outreach opportunities. Visit www.flintriverfresh.org to learn more.
