The Best Food For Our Children The Farm-To-School program operated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service (NCDA&CS) is good news for schoolchildren and good news for agriculture. This beneficial state program is helping to provide students with the best quality fruits and vegetables produced by Tar Heel farmers. For example, the Food Distribution and Marketing divisions of NCDA&CS are currently coordinating deliveries of fresh North Carolina strawberries to children in 116 school systems. N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Britt Cobb is continuing a program started over five years ago after an eye-opening review of school system food purchases showed a large number of fruits and vegetables were being imported—either from other countries or other states. Child nutrition directors within the North Carolina school system were encouraged to review food purchases and offered a plan to purchase more homegrown alternatives when in season. Sweet potatoes were first offered to schools and the program has grown to include North Carolina foods grown across the state. During the last school year North Carolina commodities included fresh apples from the mountains, watermelon and cantaloupes from the eastern and central parts of the state as well as tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and pumpkins. The Farm-To-School program is a joint effort that includes assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense, which purchases commodities for the federal school breakfast and lunch programs. Strawberries are the second North Carolina grown fruit offered to students this year. Earlier, schools could opt to purchase frozen blueberry cups. A total of $334,839 worth of North Carolina produce was purchased through the program during the 2002-2003 school year, helping to keep money in local economies and helping North Carolina farmers to continue producing nutritious food. Gary Gay, NCDA&CS Food Distribution division, says concern for childhood obesity should push school system participation in the program even higher this year. NCDA&CS is continuing a marketing program that makes good sense. The state should continue such programs that ensure North Carolina schoolchildren receive the very best in nutrition—direct from Tar Heel farms