As part of an initiative with the Cleveland Clinic, a local farmer and other entities are working together to bring a healthy menu to elementary schools including the Berea school district.
The Cuyahoga County Fair Board is currently in the process of considering an agreement with a local farmer to lease about three-fourths of an acre behind its Junior Fair building. Fresh fruits and vegetables will be grown for the district by the farmer, who has two plots in Cleveland now. The agreement is expected to be approved by members on October 27.
According to Berea school district’s supervisor of nutrition services Beth Spinks, the initiative is a collaborative effort with Olmsted Falls schools, the fair board, Cleveland Clinic, Cuyahoga County Board of Health and The Ohio State University Extension service.
“We think this is sustainable,” she said. “The USDA is pushing the Farm-to-School program. We are very supportive of this idea.”
The USDA has proposed new standards for school meals beginning fall of 2012. It aims to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free and low-fat milk in school meals; reduce the levels of sodium and saturated fat in meals and help meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements.
“We have always known we have a healthy menu and selections for our children. But the Cleveland Clinic to acknowledge this and to let our parents know their children are getting healthy choices are added pluses,” said Spinks.
