The Buffalo Public School District has received a $45,000 'Farm-to-Food' planning grant. WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says this U.S. Department of Agriculture grant will allow the district to begin setting up salad bar in elementary schools to promote healthy eating.
Students at Bennett Park Montessori School on Clinton Street were excited to line up at the salad bar. They were selecting all kinds of health toppings to mix into their salads.
"Dried craisins, olives and sunflower seeds. I love that this is just so healthy, and tastes so good. I put cranberries," said the students.
This federal grant will help push the Buffalo Public School Farm to School initiative forward.
Bridget O'Brien-Wood is school district food service director. She said a couple of years ago the District was working with farmers bringing in fresh produce, but the program fell apart weather changes affected crops.
"So what the planning grant is going to do is really understand the barriers of getting the produce from the farmers to the schools and how we can have a plan in place," said O'Brien-Wood.
This grant will help bring in local, healthy fresh foods to cafeterias. City school board member Jay McCarthy was thrilled to see students eating salads.
Students at Bennett Park Montessori School on Clinton Street gather at the salad bar.
Credit WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
"A couple of years ago you couldn't even find a salad bar in schools," said McCarthy.
Buffalo Public High School students, that make up the Youth Advisory Board. have been working to get salad bars in every city school.