Fresh, Local Food for North Carolina Students

Farmer Foodshare partners with many volunteers and representatives from other organizations to expose kids to the fresh, local produce we deliver to their school cafeterias. Your contributions make this work possible -- thank you!

Today's report begins with a missive from Annie Kersting, an Americorps Service Member hosted by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, who recounts her experience volunteering at a recent cafeteria taste test.

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I precariously push a cart of carefully arranged paper cups down the narrow aisles of the Holt Elementary School cafeteria. As soon as I make eye-contact with a familiar face, a whole table of small bodies leap from their seats to a chorus of "Ms. Annie! Ms. Annie!"

I am overwhelmed and warmed by their enthusiasm, and after I remark so to their teacher, she nods knowingly, "first graders will do that."

I have been visiting their classroom for five months now teaching short lessons on food nutrition and growing food in our school garden through Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Urban Agriculture Education programs and the FoodCorps Americorps program. Our latest lesson was on the squash family and learning about pumpkin's oddly-shaped cousins.

We ended the lesson with a school-wide taste test of butternut squash with Farmer Foodshare. The first graders' review of the cinnamon- and sugar-roasted vegetable was resounding approval, their affection for the new food intertwined with their enthusiasm for interacting with an exciting visitor.

The third graders I visit next are not as easily impressed. Many show us thumbs sideways, an indication of "it tasted ok" on our taste rating scale. Braedyn, who oversees Farmer Foodshare's taste test program, confidently leans into a table and recounts his childhood hatred of coconut, and then his change in preference as he got older and enjoyed it.

Our message to students: you don't have to like everything you taste, but don't be afraid to try it.

I work with the hope that students are learning to be open-minded about new foods and aware of how food choices affect their health. I am learning that it is not just multiple exposures to vegetables that fosters this, but the people involved (teachers, cafeteria staff, and exciting visitors like Braedyn and other Farmer Foodshare staff and volunteers, as well as myself) to ignite enthusiasm and tell stories that make the food familiar.

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And speaking of the amazing cafeteria staff...

The cafeteria teams at Durham Public Schools work long hours to make sure that all 33,000 students receive fresh, nutritious meals every single day. They do so with only minimal supplies and very little funding -- it's a challenge, and they do it with a smile because they truly care about the kids.

So we thought it would be nice to let them know how much we appreciate them.

Donors like you mailed in notes of encouragement, and we were able to drop off those little valentines at all 47 schools this spring. The result: big smiles to serve up with all that butternut squash.

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Your support makes this work possible, and it's endlessly rewarding. We are gearing up for another school year filled with fresh veggies. Please consider supporting the kids in choosing fresh food with a donation again this year.  Thank you!