School district optimistic about grant to provide students fresh fruit and vegetables

The Cherokee County School District hopes a couple of schools will soon be able to participate in a federal $250,000 grant to provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables.

The state Department of Education's food service office and the Department of Agriculture plan to work with farmers to provide locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in schools.

The state will select 25 schools June 1 to participate in the nutrition program.

The grant funds will provide fruit baskets inside classrooms and kiosks in hallways to encourage students to grab fresh fruit or vegetable snacks during the school day.

District food service director Roland Cabading said he will spend the next couple of weeks finalizing a grant application to participate in the state Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program.

"This is another way we can provide students with access to fruits and vegetables that they might not get to eat at home on a regular basis," Cabading said.

Schools have until April 18 to apply to participate in the fruit and vegetable program.

Winning schools must demonstrate a willingness to develop nutrition education programs focused on fruits and vegetables.

"I have a few ideas on how we could make this work in our schools," Cabading said. "I plan to talk with principals after we get back from spring break before a final decision is made on what schools the district will include in our grant application."