Fresh, Local Food Pilot Launches in Schools

Fresh food carts in five Nova Scotia schools will support farmers and give students greater access to locally grown produce, help them understand where food comes from, and fuel their learning.

The $100,000 pilot project was recently launched by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Nova Scotia Health. Access to healthy, nutritious food at school is an important part of supporting students’ learning and development.

“We are funding these fresh food carts in schools to support buying local, give our farmers an expanded market for their produce, and teach young people to choose a healthy variety of foods,” said Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow.

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

The food carts are open for student lunches Tuesdays and Thursdays each week at the following schools in the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education:

• Springhill Junior-Senior High (grades 7-12)
• Tatamagouche Regional Academy (grades Primary-12)
• Elmsdale District School (grades Primary-5)
• G.R. Saunders Elementary, Stellarton (grades Primary-6)
• Winding River Consolidated, Stewiacke (grades Primary-6).

The Department of Agriculture is working to get more locally grown and produced foods in schools, hospitals, and in long-term care and correctional facilities. It also has a goal to ensure that at least 20 per cent of food purchased by Nova Scotians is locally grown by 2030.