The U.S. Apple Association in partnership with the School Nutrition Association and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, today announced the call for entries for the 2017 Apples4Ed grant program.
The program, with a renewed focus and rebranded website, will award one $10,000 and two $5,000 grants to fund a healthy snacking initiative on a US school campus.
“Equipping kids with what they need to be successful in the classroom starts first with nutrition, and not only at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table,” said Jim Bair, President and CEO of USApple. “Apples and other healthy snacks drive alertness, focus and energy throughout the day. With our new Apples4Ed partners, SNA and NASDA, we are on a mission to bring healthy snacking awareness to schools across the country.”
“School nutrition professionals work hard to ensure students can enjoy delicious fresh fruits and vegetables with every school meal, but sometimes snack time undermines efforts to encourage kids to eat these healthy options,” said SNA President Lynn Harvey. “SNA is excited to join USApple and NASDA in fostering new ideas to ensure student snacks are nutritious choices that support achievement in the classroom and at home.”
“The agriculture community has an obligation to provide students with the nutrition needed to grow our next generation of farmers, ranchers, chefs, nutritionists, and policymakers,” said NASDA President and Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Steven K. Reviczky.
“We are thrilled to partner with the SNA and USApple to shine the spotlight on the importance of healthy snacking – and support the creative thinking happening amongst students and school leadership in communities across the U.S.”
Students, food service directors, PE teachers or anyone connected to a school are encouraged to submit their healthy snacking idea by completing a short form found on the www.apples4ed.com site before November 30, 2017.