Strawberries’ Spring On The Menu For Ashe County Schools North Carolina school children will soon begin enjoying the fresh, sweet taste of locally grown strawberries at lunch as part of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Farm-to-School Program. Forty-one of the state’s 116 school systems including Ashe County Schools have placed orders for strawberries, with the fruit being delivered over a three-week period beginning April 26. It is the largest order of strawberries since the program began in 1998. “We are excited about the success of the Farm-to-School Program, which provides a new market for local farmers. This year, nearly $90,000 worth of strawberries are being delivered to the schools,” said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb. “This order is nearly double the amount purchased by schools in 2003. I think the school systems recognize and appreciate the quality of the products they receive, and like knowing they are supporting local farmers.” The program is coordinated by the NCDA&CS Food Distribution and Marketing divisions, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense, which purchases commodities for the federal school breakfast and lunch programs. Food Distribution coordinates deliveries of the fresh berries from the farms to the school systems, and the Marketing Division works with farmers to fill orders. Strawberries are the second North Carolina-grown fruit being offered in 2004 to the schools as part of the Farm to School Program. Schools were able to purchase frozen blueberry cups in March. Participating school systems are: Alamance County, Anson County, Ashe County, Asheboro City, Asheville City, Buncombe County, Burke County, Cabarrus County, Camden County, Carteret County, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City, Chatham County, Clinton City, Craven County, Dare County, Davie County, Edenton Chowan, Fort Bragg Dependents, Franklin County, Gates County, Graham County, Harnett County, Henderson County, Johnston County, Jones County, Kannapolis City, Lexington City, Macon County, Nash-Rocky Mount, Newton Conover City, Northampton County, Pamlico County, Stanly County, Stokes County, Surry County, Wake County, Watauga County, Whiteville City, Wilson County, Yadkin County and Yancey County. For the 2002-2003 school year, a total of $334,839 worth of produce was purchased from local farmers through the Farm to School Program. Commodities offered included watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, cabbage, broccoli and sweet potatoes.