Beaufort County Schools

Project Description

When Beaufort County schools received Project Produce Grants for ten of their elementary schools, they had an opportunity to expose a large number of young students to fresh fruits and vegetables. Each month, Director of Wellness Jessica Perez would orchestrate taste tests in the cafeteria. Throughout the month, the students would try each item three separate times. First would be a taste test in the cafeteria.

Next, the cafeteria chef would incorporate the item into a recipe. Finally, the item would be featured on the cafeteria salad bar. For example, with spinach, the students tasted it raw, then the chef prepared it in a sweet spinach pasta salad, and finally it appeared on the salad bar. The idea was that a student might not be receptive to trying a new fruit or vegetable initially, but after being exposed to it three separate times in three different ways, they would be familiarized with the item and more likely to try it.

Each month, the chef and marketing manager would rotate to a different school to spend time with the students sampling the food. They also passed out nutrition education sheets for the students to review with their teachers. Additionally, parents received newsletters telling them about the taste tests and the benefits of the fruits and vegetables being sampled.

Successes

• The students loved the project so much that they are continuing with taste tests at the various schools.
• Positive press through the school community featuring Project Produce Grant efforts.

Challenges

• Identifying individuals at each school to help coordinate the taste tests.