For the seventh consecutive year, the BISD Child Nutrition Department has accepted the challenge and earned the distinction of “Best of the Bunch!”
Each year the Texas Department of Agriculture presents districts with the Local Products Challenge to serve locally grown items to students. “Best of the Bunch” award winners meet the highest standards of the Farm Fresh Challenge and have showcased extraordinary commitment to Texas agriculture. This is an esteemed level of achievement that less than 10 percent of districts in the state receive. Winners of this award successfully incorporated local ingredients from Texas in at least three of the following meal components: milk, protein, fruits, vegetables or grains. These winning schools also offered students an opportunity to learn about agriculture and local food. Some of the local items served included pizza, sausage, bread, pickles, empanadas, milk, and fresh fruits and veggies.
When students see items like Texas citrus, grains or milk on their lunch trays, they gain valuable exposure to healthy foods and Texas agriculture. That is how the challenge provides lifelong lessons about healthy lifestyles and good nutrition. The challenge also serves up economic benefits for the entire community --each dollar that the district’s Child Nutrition team spent on local foods during October generated up to $2.16 for our local economy.
“Our child nutrition team works tirelessly throughout the year to prepare healthy and appealing school meals, ensuring our students are ready to learn and achieve their academic goals,” said Rachel Arthur, Director of Child Nutrition. ”The Best of the Bunch Award” highlights our team’s efforts to serve local products in the cafeteria and make our district a leader in nutrition.”
In addition to serving healthy and balanced meals every day, the nutrition team makes offering agricultural education and serving Texas foods top priorities during the challenge. These efforts help strengthen local economies while recognizing the efforts of farmers and ranchers in the Lone Star State.
