Charlottesville City Schools

Project Description

For Charlottesville City Schools, the Project Produce Grant provided a perfect compliment to existing food access programming on five of their campuses. City Schoolyard Garden (CSG) is the driving operational partner in this programming. CSG is a Charlottesville based non-profit that educates students through a variety of programs rooted in their on-campus gardens. Their programming in Charlottesville “cultivates health, academic exploration, environmental stewardship, equity and community.” With funding from the Project Produce Grant, CSG staff implemented a Harvest of the Month Club on the five campuses. Each month, the club features a local seasonal fruit or vegetable and conducts a taste test accompanied with educational materials. They have sampled items such as cherry tomatoes, watermelon, kale chips, and brussels sprouts.

As the Food Service Department takes stock of which taste tests are well received, those items make another appearance on the lunch line through the twice monthly Local on the Line program. For example, raw chopped cabbage tossed in lemon juice and salt was a hit among students. Transferring the success of HOTM to Local on the Line extends the reach and benefit of incorporating new, locally sourced fruits and vegetables to students’ diets.

Harvest of the Month Club and Local on the Line live on in Charlottesville City Schools, as both the district and CSG have provided funding for its continuation.

Successes

• Created a testing ground for introducing fresh fruits and vegetables to the regular cafeteria menu.
• Students were more enthused about eating fruits and vegetables.
• Increased purchasing of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Challenges

• Getting older students as engaged as the younger students.