Yuba City program inspires kids to embrace healthy eating

In Yuba City, a successful nutrition program aimed at promoting healthy eating among children is set to expand. The Yuba City Unified School District has received a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to enhance its farm-to-school initiative. This program will include hands-on educational experiences for students, such as field trips to local farms where they will learn about wheat cultivation, from planting to harvesting, and even participate in making recipes with the produce. Barry Elementary School is one of the schools benefiting from this initiative, with students already engaged in growing food in their campus garden. The excitement among students is palpable, as they are eager to learn about where their food comes from and to enjoy fresh produce. Parents have expressed their support, noting the importance of connecting children with the agricultural community. The program aims to create a mobile food facility that will bring healthy meals directly to students, integrating farm visits into their learning experience. The first pilot field trip is anticipated in the spring, with the rollout of the program occurring in phases over the next year. This initiative not only fosters a love for healthy eating but also strengthens the bond between students and local agriculture, providing them with valuable knowledge about food production and nutrition.