Fresh Food Carts Bring Local Food to More Schools

More students can enjoy fresh, local food at lunchtime with the arrival of fresh food carts at their schools.

A provincial pilot project that supports farmers by promoting locally grown or produced foods has started at eight schools in the Strait Regional Centre for Education.

“We’re promoting local foods, and part of that is helping some of the biggest kitchens in our province find ways to get more local foods on the menu,” said Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow. “Fresh food carts at our schools help our farmers get their local products on more plates while giving students more healthy options.”

The food carts are large, portable salad bars offering Nova Scotia-grown carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, apples and other seasonal produce.

Schools participating in the three-month, $200,000 pilot project at the Strait Regional Centre for Education are:

• Dalbrae Academy, Southwest Mabou (grades 9-12)
• Inverness Education Centre/Academy (grades Primary-12)
• Tamarac Education Centre, Port Hawkesbury (grades Primary-8)
• Antigonish Education Centre (grades Primary-4)
• Chedabucto Education Centre/Guysborough Academy (grades Primary-12)
• Richmond Education Centre/Academy, Louisdale (grades 5-12)
• East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy, Monastery (grades Primary-12)
• Saint Mary’s Education Centre/Academy, Sherbrooke (grades Primary-12).

The first food cart pilot project was launched in April at participating schools in the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education.

The pilot projects are supported by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Nova Scotia Health.