The Caldwell County Board of Education is happy to announce that Caldwell County Primary School and Caldwell County Elementary School have been selected as recipients the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to Lizzie Wynn, the district’s Public Relations and Community Engagement Coordinator, the program offers all children in participating schools a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. It also promotes community partnerships to support schools in providing free fruits and vegetables to children during the school day.
The goal of the program is to:
• create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices
• expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience
• increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption
• make a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health
Wynn explained that schools were selected based on applications from elementary schools participating in the National School Lunch Program with a requirement that 50 percent or more of their students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. She said priority was given to schools with the percentage of free and reduced-price eligible students. Wynn reported that Kentucky received over $3.9 million in funding from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the 2023 Federal Fiscal Year. She said each participating school will receive funds to run the program based on approximately $50 per student. Caldwell County Primary School and Caldwell County Elementary School were awarded a total of $69,375.
