Several Long Branch Schools Added to Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Five Long Branch Schools have been chosen to participate in a state Department of Agriculture program designed to improve the health of students by providing access to nutritious meals.

The Amerigo Anastsia Elementary School, Audrey W. Clark School, Lenna W. Conrow School, Morris Avenue School, and West End School, all located in Long Branch, have been selected for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the 2011-2012 school year.

The program is designed to expose students to healthy foods and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat and improve their diets, according to a release from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

According to the release, some of the criteria used in making the selections included: elementary schools with 50 percent or more of their students eligible for free or reduced price meals; schools that planned to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables as much as possible.

Other criteria included schools that planned to make the program well-publicized so all students would have access to the produce offered, and schools that planned to partner with outside organizations to enhance nutrition education.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher recently announced that 143 schools in 16 counties have been chosen to participate in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded program for the next school year, which provides students with fresh produce during the school day, according to the release. There are currently 101 schools participating in the program for the current school year.

“This has been a very successful program – the students love the fresh fruits and vegetables and many schools are sourcing the produce from our local farmers,” Fisher said.  “We hope this program will continue to grow to give more children the opportunity to increase their consumption of fresh produce and gain the many health benefits of eating these foods.”