Tupelo Public School District

Project Description

The Fruitemon and Veggiemon card program was central to the Project Produce grant in Tupelo Public Schools. A take on the popular Pokemon game, players would have to capture fruits and vegetables in their stomachs by trying them in order to collect cards. A seventh grader at Tupelo Middle School designed the cards, which featured nutrition facts about the fruits and vegetables. This creative collaboration was a great way to get kids excited about trying new foods.

All four elementary schools expanded garden bed programs during the grant period. The beds were built and maintained by FoodCorps service members, parents, principals, farmers from local Native Son Farms, teachers, and students. Garden lessons were implemented in which students learned about plant anatomy, planting, harvesting, nutrition, composting, etc. It was a collaborative effort that offers not only health benefits, but diverse learning opportunities.

Taste Tests encouraged students to try new foods from local farms and their own gardens. Taste Test surveys created at Parkway Elementary found that students were more open to trying foods they grew in the school garden, and enjoyed the taste better. A Harvest of the Month feature went along with the garden lessons. A board was posted near the cafeteria at each school featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables, information about the farmers who grew them, and nutrition benefits. Fliers were sent home with students so they could share cafeteria recipes with their families.

Successes

• Kids were open to trying new fruits and vegetables and enjoying them.
• Other schools in the district that had not received the grant were able to benefit from the purchasing power of local produce.
• Dynamic connections to local farms, particularly Native Son Farms
  

Challenges

• Finding time in the day to include nutrition education. Different subject teachers, such as PE and science, took on the job of implementing nutrition education.
• Students are out of school during peak growing season, which begins in April/May and lasts through the summer.
• Making sure the farmers provided paperwork such a tax forms, inspections, etc. This is not typical protocol for many of these small farmers.

*Chef Ann Foundation does not verify the accuracy of resources provided by individual school districts.