There is an earnest quote somewhere that says “Your attitude determines your altitude.”
Along with that line of thinking, the Urban School Food Alliance, a coalition of the largest school districts in the U.S., is celebrating Fresh Attitude Week from May 7-11.
FRESH attitude determines altitude if you will.
Given that many students live in food deserts in big city districts, Fresh Attitude Week raises the importance of fresh fruits and veggies not only in school meals but also at home, according to the group.
The coalition of districts (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami-Dade, Dallas, and others) notes Fresh Attitude Week is organized in collaboration with the French Department of Agriculture and in partnership with Interfel (French Inter-Branch Association of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables which created Fresh Attitude Week).
Fresh Attitude Week has become an annual event in Alliance districts in America, along with schools in France and Italy to raise awareness about the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools.
From the release:
“Studies show that the younger people try various fruits and vegetables, the more likely they are to continue consuming them as adults,” said Leslie Fowler, secretary of the Urban School Food Alliance and chief of Nutrition and Facilities Operations at Chicago Public Schools. “Many of our students live in neighborhoods considered food deserts, without access to produce. Our goal in our schools is to provide all students access to nutrient-rich foods that include fruits and vegetables for their health and wellness so they can do well in school.”
Fresh Attitude Week celebrations have helped raise the popularity of produce in school meals. The Alliance districts have been successful in increasing fresh fruits and vegetable consumption in schools during Fresh Attitude Week from year to year. In 2015, Alliance districts served 5.9 million servings of fruits and vegetables during Fresh Attitude Week. In 2016, consumption increased to 8.6 million servings. That number further increased in 2017 by 34 percent to 11.5 million servings.
Of their total annual budget of $831 million in food and food supplies, the Urban School Food Alliance districts purchase more than $91 million worth of fruits and vegetables a year.
For Fresh Attitude Week, Alliance districts will conduct the following activities to highlight fresh produce in school meals:
- Highlight “Harvest of the Month” items
- Serve new fresh fruits and vegetables during breakfast and lunch;
- Host local farmer visits to educate students about “farm-to-school” efforts;
- Perform chef cooking demonstrations at school sites ;
- Donate gardening kits to various school gardens ; and
- Conduct open houses for local media outlets to capture Fresh Attitude Week activities.
TK: Kudos to the Urban School Food Alliance for promoting fresh in a big way.
Speaking of fresh and schools, let’s hope produce lobbyists can keep the fresh focus for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in the farm bill.
Check out coverage from a few weeks ago that quotes retired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin about changes to the program in the House farm bill. The House version would allow processed fruits and veggies in the program.
Harkin complains in the piece that if the House version program prevails “then it won’t be a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program,” except in name alone.
Keep a “fresh” attitude - a good reminder for all of us.
