Schools receive fruit, vegetable funds

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Britan Bolding's duties as Franklin County Watermelon Queen took her into the city schools Friday to help kick off the system's fresh fruit and vegetable program.
The fresh fruit and vegetable program provides children with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day.
Last week, students at Russellville Elementary School and West Elementary School were served watermelon to kick off the program and the Watermelon Festival. Those melons were grown by local farmers within the county.
The Russellville city schools received grants in order to put the fresh fruits and vegetables program into place for the new school year. West Elementary School received $37,423 and Russellville Elementary was awarded $35,621.
The money will allow the students to receive fresh fruits and vegetables each Tuesday through Friday during the school year.
"It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options," said city schools child nutrition program director Elaine Vaughn.
"The FFVP also encourages community partnerships to support the schools when they offer free fruit and vegetables to children during the school day."
This program is seen as an important catalyst for 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.