600 Pounds of Local Carrots Delivered to Support Food For Kids Breakfast Programs
Written by admin, November 20, 2013
November 20, 2013 – “Carrots for Kids” Campaign Benefits Students and Local Farmers
Today 600 pounds of carrots were delivered to Food For Kids breakfast programs to mark the first anniversary of the “Carrots for Kids” campaign, which is part of an initiative geared toward increasing student access to local food in the school community.
“Food For Kids is pleased to have the opportunity to increase our capacity with local farmers so that we can offer locally grown and produced foods in our schools”, says Brenda Dales, chair of Food For Kids Peterborough and County. “We recognize the benefits of supporting our local economy while also providing our children and youth with the best quality food.”
All 600 pounds of carrots were locally grown by Kennedy Farms in Omemee, a regular contributor to the YWCA of Peterborough Victoria & Haliburton JustFood program. “Partnering with Food For Kids Peterborough and County is positive for students and our local agriculture,” says Jason Kennedy of Kennedy Farms. “Knowing that we’re supporting healthy eating in Peterborough schools is a great feeling and encourages us to keep farming.”
The YWCA JustFood Program will deliver the carrots directly to city schools. Schools will also receive classroom resources to promote local foods and allow students to make curriculum connections. This is the second year that participating schools received local carrots with a goal to providing nutritious snacks for kids while supporting the local farming community.
“Carrots for Kids received a lot of positive feedback from students, teachers, and coordinators last year and this year we’ve encouraged even more schools to participate,” stated Chris McCarthy, School Community Coordinator for Food For Kids Peterborough and County. “This means more students within our community can enjoy fresh, local produce while also getting the chance to learn about where their food comes from.”
Each school day, over 17 000 students, in 46 local city and county schools, have the opportunity to participate in a Food For Kids Breakfast program where vegetables and fruit are available daily. This ensures that students are able to start their day well-nourished and ready to learn.
Food For Kids continually strives to build partnerships with local farmers and looks forward to another carrot delivery in January of 2014.
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For further information, please contact:
Chris McCarthy, Student Nutrition Program Coordinator
Food For Kids Peterborough and County
(705) 742-2269
Elizabeth Finlan, Public Health Nutritionist
Peterborough Public Health
705-743-1000 ext. 233
www.pcchu-testing.ca/ffk