Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

9/8/06

NEWS RELEASE
Auburn School District Offering Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable Afternoon Snack

Pioneer Elementary School has secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide extra fresh fruits and vegetables to all students in the school for every day of the upcoming school year, September 5-June 21. These fresh fruits and vegetables will be provided as a special afternoon snack. The nutritious snack will also be available in the school office.

The USDA believes this program will: (1) improve the nutritional status of students by providing extra fresh fruits and vegetables daily; (2) build “healthy snack habits”; (3) compliment the nutrition education occurring in the classroom; and (4) provide more nutrition education opportunities for students and parents at the school via partnerships with nutrition education providers. This is a pilot program, and the USDA is currently funding the program in 25 schools in the state of Washington.

Auburn School District is seeking to purchase the fresh fruits and vegetables locally via community farmers for the 2006-07 school year. Interested parties should contact Eric Boutin, director of Child Nutrition Services, at (253) 931-4972.