Sept. 16--Wenonah Elementary Cafeteria Manager Annette Bess said students at the Waynesboro school were thrilled last week when they dined on a snack of fresh peaches.
"They loved them,'' she said. "One fifth-grader had never eaten a fresh peach and really loved it."
Wenonah and William Perry elementary schools are the two in Waynesboro participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's fresh fruit and vegetable program this year.
Also involved are Craigsville Elementary in Augusta County and Bessie Weller Elementary in Staunton.
The Waynesboro schools are offering snacks of fresh fruit or vegetables at least three times a week, and hopefully five times a week, said Tammy Coffey, the school nutrition program manager for the Waynesboro Schools.
Coffey said she applied for the federal grant last spring and based her application on the two city schools with the highest free and reduced lunch population.
She said the $55,000 grant is good for the rest of the school year, and allows the school district to purchase the fruits and vegetables from Standard Produce of Charlottesville and the Waynesboro Farmers' Market.
Bess said students are given some basic information about the fruit or vegetable during morning announcements.
As part of the grant, students learn about the healthy qualities of the fruits and vegetables and and the benefits of eating them each day.
"It is all about eating well and being educated well,'' Bess said.
Coffey has received positive feedback from teachers and principals at the two schools.
Wenonah Principal Rebecca Jarvis said the new program "is so exciting for us. So many of our students have not experienced fresh fruits and vegetables."
Across Virginia this school year, 127 schools are participating in the fresh fruit and vegetable program.
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