A federal grant is providing fresh fruits and vegetables to Thomas County students.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program that provides all children in participating schools with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. The FFVP also encourages schools to develop partnerships at the state and local levels for support in implementing and operating the program

“Having this grant allows us to expose students to a variety of common and unique fruits and vegetables, promoting conversations about fresh fruits grown locally and in regions other than our own,” Thomas County’s Director of Nutrition Cindy Carnes said. “We love the exposure and experience that it brings to the senses including sight, touch and taste. This definitely provides teachable moments for both our cafeteria staff and teachers.”

The students will receive a fruit or vegetable snack three days a week and will be educated on what they are eating. Some of the fruits and vegetables slated to try are kiwi, mango, dragon carrots, star fruit, dragon fruit, tri-colored cauliflower, jicama, asparagus, red oranges, kale, passion fruit and a variety of apples.

The goal of the FFVP is to create healthier school environments by expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption, and making a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health.

This program promotes change in efforts to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The FFVP introduces school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have had the opportunity to sample.