Grants given to schools to help kids eat healthy

by Emily Gersema - Arizona Republic / Apr. 25, 2009 10:25 PM

Anthony Anderson, a fifth grader at Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary in Queen Creek, brushes aside the bushy tops of a group of radishes growing in his school's garden. He tugs out a hot-pink bulb.

"Look at this one!" he says, holding it up.

The students at this J.O. Combs Unified District school have been keeping an eye on a large, raised garden that features pest-deterring marigolds, sweet corn stalks as tall as a fourth-grader, squash, tomatoes and everything else you'd need for a picnic.

The district's nutrition director, Michelle Swendseid, said the inspiration for this garden actually stemmed from a special fresh fruit and vegetable program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Swendseid said kids and teachers enjoyed the greens and fruits so much they took the idea to new heights and decided to try growing food in the school yard.

Since 2002, the USDA has been providing grants for schools to buy fresh produce of all sorts. The program was established through the multi-billion dollar farm bill with goals of reducing childhood obesity and educating children about nutrition.

The program also has appealed to fruit and vegetable industry groups that wanted to promote their goods.

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