           Home > News > News Item |
||||||
 |
News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM, HEALTH, JOINING OTHERS IN EAST PROVIDENCE TO PROMOTE LOCAL PRODUCE AND NUTRITION EDUCATION ON HARVEST DAY PROVIDENCE - State officials from the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Health will join East Providence school officials, Chartwells School Dining Service, and Kids First of Rhode Island, to celebrate Harvest Day on Thursday, November 8 by promoting local produce and nutrition education.On that date, students at all 10 elementary schools and three secondary schools within the East Providence school district will receive a healthy lunch meal that incorporates locally-grown and produced ingredients. At two schools, Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School* and Edward R. Martin Middle School, children also will have hands-on lessons from Kids First and a local farmer about the fruits and vegetables used to create their lunch meal. Teaching children where food comes from and how a healthy meal is prepared are just some of the nutrition education benefits that will be embraced during Harvest Day, according to officials at Chartwells, which organized the event. Take-home materials about the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables also will be available. "The activities will teach students about good nutrition as well as where their food comes from and the value of local agriculture," said Ken Ayars, chief of DEM's Division of Agriculture. "Much of the Harvest Day menu comes straight from local farms." "Choosing healthy foods is one of the most important things kids can do for good health," said Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. "We know that partnerships between local farmers and schools help kids make better food choices and that healthier eating positively impacts school performance." The menu will include potatoes and squash from Young Family Farm in Little Compton, apples from Steere Orchard, and apple cider from Jaswell's Farm, both located in Smithfield. Sliced roast turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato bars, and low-fat milk will complete the fall-inspired meal. Harvest Day is a collaborative effort organized by Barbara Cohen, resident district manager of East Bay School District for Chartwells School Dining Services; Dorothy Brayley, executive director of Kids First and chair of the RI Healthy Schools Coalition; and Carole Toselli, healthy schools coordinator, also with Kids First. Others who will join the celebration include DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D., Dr. Gifford, and Ayars.* "Local foods and connection to agriculture are increasingly important and recognized by the public and schools as essential to our healthy economy, quality of life, and nutrition," Sullivan said. "DEM, in fact, granted $15,000 in farm viability funds this past spring to Kids First to continue its efforts to increase the amount of locally grown, fresh produce offered in Rhode Island schools via the statewide farm to school program." "It is our hope that other school districts will follow suit as they learn that local produce is available, accessible and enjoyed by the school children in East Providence," said Brayley. "We are proud that Chartwells and Rhode Island school districts are supporting local farmers, and most importantly, good nutrition in our schools." Rhode Island-grown produce is served throughout the year at East Providence schools. To date, a local produce program has been implemented at 12 Chartwells' school districts in Rhode Island, encompassing 98 schools with a population of 47,000 students. Chartwells, a division of Charlotte, NC-based Compass Group, provides dining services for over 550 public school districts and private schools, comprising over 4,000 separate elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. For additional information, contact Caroline Nelson of Chartwells at 914-935-5348, or via e-mail at caroline.nelson@compass-usa.com. -30- *Dr. Gifford of HEALTH and Director Sullivan of DEM will be helping to serve lunch at the Whiteknact Elementary School, 262 Grosvenor Avenue, from noon to 12:30 p.m.Directions to the school from Providence: Route 195 East to exit 4 onto Taunton Avenue/Route 44 East to right on Grosvenor. |
|||||
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer