SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The United States Department of Agriculture has recognized Sylacauga City Schools with a Best Practice Award of Achievement.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) award was presented in the field of Increasing Consumption of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. It recognized the Child Nutrition Department’s ongoing work with a USDA grant by introducing elementary children to the wide variety of fresh produce items grown by farmers across the nation. Along with serving fresh produce items every week, Kelley Wassermann, Director of Child Nutrition, created the character of Chef Lucy to teach nutrition education to elementary children. Sylacauga City Schools has received the USDA grant every year since the program began ten years ago.
“Today’s 9th graders had the Fruity Valley and Pinecrest Orchard programs every week all during their elementary years,” said Wassermann. “It is exciting to see the students choose to make healthy choices in what they eat. That is what the Child Nutrition Program is all about: feeding hungry kids and teaching them about healthy choices for a healthy life.”
Sylacauga City Schools was one of only three schools in the state of Alabama to receive this award. The district was happy to be recognized for its work in promoting fresh fruits and vegetables with the students.
