Thousands of Local Carrots Delivered to Support Food For Kids Breakfast Program
Written by admin, November 21, 2012
November 21, 2012 – Initiative Part of Ontario Farm to School Challenge
Today marked the first organized delivery of 560 pounds of locally grown carrots from Kennedy Farms near Omemee to Food For Kids Peterborough and County school breakfast programs.
“Food For Kids is excited to have locally grown food offered in our Breakfast Programs as part of the Ontario Farm to School Challenge,” stated Chris McCarthy, Community Coordinator for Food For Kids Peterborough and County. “We are one of five regional partners on the ground floor of the Farm to School Challenge. The Challenge will increase the use of local food in schools and help schools and school boards develop the skills, knowledge and relationship necessary to continue to increase purchase of local food in the long-term”.
The carrots were provided by Kennedy Farms from Omemee, a regular contributor to the YWCA of Peterborough Victoria & Haliburton JustFood program. The YWCA JustFood Program will deliver the carrots directly to city schools. Schools will also receive classroom resources to promote local foods and make curriculum connections.
“Partnering with Food For Kids Peterborough and County is positive for students and local agriculture,” said Jason and Gary Kennedy of Kennedy Farms. “Knowing that we’re supporting healthy eating in Peterborough schools is a great feeling and encourages us to keep farming.”
“Peterborough has a vibrant agriculture community so it only makes sense to work with local farmers to provide the very best of local foods to our children,” said Brenda Dales, chair of Food For Kids Peterborough and County.
Each school day, in 46 local city and county schools, 17,000 students have the opportunity to participate in a Food For Kids Breakfast program to start their day well-nourished and ready to learn. School Breakfast Programs include vegetables or fruit on the menu every day.
Food For Kids Peterborough and County is a regional partner of the Ontario Farm to School Challenge and as a result, the carrots purchased from Kennedy Farms will be paid for with a grant from the Ontario Greenbelt Fund.
For more information about the Ontario Farm to School Challenge visit www.OntarioFresh.ca/farmtoschool.
-30-
For further information, please contact:
Chris McCarthy
Student Nutrition Program Coordinator, Food For Kids Peterborough and County
705-742-2269
Carolyn Doris, Public Health Nutritionist
Peterborough Public Health
705-743-1000, ext. 251
www.pcchu-testing.ca/ffk