ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black today announced the five schools selected to participate in the third “Feed My School for a Week” Program are Annie Bell Clark Elementary in Tifton, Cave Springs Elementary in Rome, Claxton Elementary in Claxton, Commerce Primary School in Commerce and Mossy Creek Elementary in Cleveland.

The “Feed My School” program increases awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and healthy eating, while assisting schools in sourcing local produce and products. The program sponsored by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

“The pilot program of “Feed My School was such a great success that we were encouraged to expand the program to five schools across the state,” said Commissioner Black. “With this program, students will discover the importance of agriculture through learning about the process that brings local produce and goods from an area farm to the cafeteria table while at the same time receiving a healthy, delicious meal.”

The phrase “Farm-to-School” is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. when it comes to offering healthy, fresh produce options to students. To keep Georgia a step above the rest, the State Departments of Education and Agriculture have combined their efforts to better assist all school districts in this initiative.

The “Feed My School for a Week” program aims to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm to cafeteria opportunities. The result will be healthier Georgia students, decreased barriers in farm to school efforts and increased awareness as students learn and experience, both educationally and nutritionally, where their food comes from.

During a one-week period in the spring semester, all lunches served out of each selected school’s cafeteria will consist of 75-100 percent of Georgia Grown food. The schools will host an agriculture guest speakers and “taste tests” for Georgia commodities, in addition to several other educational activities throughout the designated week.

To learn more about the program, please visit: http://www.agr.georgia.gov/feed-my-school-for-a-week.aspx.

Source: Georgia Department of Agriculture