Lunenburg West MLA Mark Furey, standing in the Hebbville Academy School cafeteria, started a chant which got students excited for locally sourced greens.
That’s right — he got the kids chanting for salad.
Furey and other government officials were in Lunenburg County on Wednesday to announce $160,000 for a pilot project that will provide locally sourced salad bars to five schools in the Shore Regional Centre of Education area.
The funding was provided by Invest Nova Scotia in support of Agri-Futures Nova Scotia, one of several organizations which made the project possible.
And as a result of the project, students are being given the choice to eat healthy, locally sourced produce at school.
Jeff DeWolfe, director of programs and students services for the SSRCE, said work has been going on for almost two years to implement the project.
“We were at a crossroads,” said DeWolfe. “We’re responsible for their food every day so it’s incumbent upon us that we’re giving them healthy food.”
They’d been struggling to provide healthy or affordable options to students.
But by providing locally sourced food, DeWolfe said the SSRCE is teaching kids to eat healthy and to support local farmers.
“When you look at the long game and what we’re trying to do, it’s going to have a huge impact on our students and their families for generations to come,” he said.
DeWolfe added that, if successful, the project could be replicated across the province; the SSRCE is already seeking additional partners for when the one-year pilot wraps up with the hope of bringing it to more schools.
Goals for the project include selling 25,000 features meals and sourcing at least 30 per cent of produce for the salad bars from local farmers.
For his part, Furey said the pilot will serve to educate students about the benefits of healthy living and the impact of choosing local.
“You can see the energy amongst our youth when we talk about healthy food,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll be having a discussion at the kitchen table this evening.”
Other schools included in the pilot project include Bluenose Academy, Chester Area Middle School, West Northfield Elementary School and New Germany Rural High School.
