SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

PRESS RELEASE

 

CONTACT:  Orlando Griego                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

310.450.8338, ext. 228                                      21 OCT 2008

 

 

WILL ROGERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO RECEIVE CA FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM GRANT

 

WHEN:  Thursday, October 30th

WHERE: Will Rogers Learning Community, 1401-14th Street, Santa Monica

 

Will Rogers Learning Community, one of twenty-five schools in California to receive a California Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Grant, will be honored by a visit from Lorelei DiSogra, Vice President of Nutrition at United Fresh Produce Association in Washington, D.C. and Secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture, A.G. Kawamura.  Joining them will be Phyllis Bramson-Paul, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education and Matt McInerney, Executive Vice President, Western Growers Association.

 

Together they will participate in the distribution of fresh Farmers’ Market fruit to the students for their morning snack. They will talk to 5th graders in Room 511 about the snack program and observe a nutrition education lesson.

 

The purpose of the FFVP is to provide all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruit or fresh vegetable snacks throughout the school day and to introduce fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options.  The goals of the FFVP are to:

  • Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices
  • Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience
  • Increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption
  • Make a difference in children’s diets to affect their present and future health

 

Will Rogers Learning Community is a model for other schools in California in that it has implemented four strategies to positively impact students’ health.

  1. Farmers’ Market Salad Bar Lunch, which is in its 11th year of operation
  2. School Gardens, first implemented 10 years ago.
  3. STRINGS - (Students and Teachers in Nurturing Groups for Success) combines students from all grade levels at the school into classes of 20 for 1 hour every Friday to develop healthy behaviors related to their bodies as well as their minds and community.
  4. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

 

The United Fresh Produce Association, the nation’s premier fruit & vegetable trade association, was a leading advocate for expanding this program along with state leaders including California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell. California is the nation’s top producer of fruits and vegetables.

 

Edison Language Academy was also awarded a FFVP Grant and Dr. DiSogra will be visiting with Lori Orum, Principal at Edison that same afternoon.

 

If you would like more information about this visit or the program please contact Orlando Griego, Director – Food & Nutrition Services or Dona Richwine, Nutrition Specialist at 310-450-8338 ext. 228.

 

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SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

1651 16TH Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404

ph: 310.450.8338; fax: 310.581.1138

www.smmusd.org