Marietta City Schools Awarded Fruit, Vegetable Grants

Three Marietta City schools are the recipients of one-year grants awarded by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).

The grants to Dunleith, Hickory Hills and Sawyer Road Elementary are valued at over $91,000.

“These Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants are part of the USDA Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). Dunleith Elementary will receive $32,181, Hickory Hills Elementary will receive $22,872, and Sawyer Road Elementary will receive $36,035 from the grant,” said Cindy Culver, Marietta City Schools Director of School Nutrition. “Grant allocations are based on student enrollment at qualifying schools.”

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants allow school systems to provide low income students with fresh domestic fruits and vegetables each day other than at a meal (breakfast or lunch) and teaches children there are alternate snack choices to high fat, sugar or salt snacks.

“These FFVP grants provide our schools an opportunity to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption while introducing students to a wide variety of produce that is not typically served during school lunch,” added Culver. “Each student receives an extra snack that helps them to stay focused and ready to learn.”