Food services staff Kim Cales, left, and Gail Craft deliver fresh snacks to classrooms at Mountain View Elementary School through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, introducing healthy food into the school day. (AHPS Photo)

MVES Students Get a Fresh Taste of Farm to School   Low Moor, VA (Oct. 2, 2026) - October is Farm to School Month in Virginia, and the week of Oct. 5 is Farm to School Week, a time to celebrate the connections between schools, students, farmers and the food grown and produced in their communities. Farm to School Month highlights efforts to bring more locally grown and fresh foods into schools while giving students opportunities to learn about agriculture, nutrition and where their food comes from. At Mountain View Elementary School, that concept is taking shape in a simple way: fresh fruits and vegetables are making their way into classrooms for students to enjoy and learn about. This school year, MVES students are receiving fresh snacks through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, commonly known as FFVP. The program gives students opportunities to try a variety of fresh produce while learning about nutrition and healthy eating. For students, it can mean discovering a new favorite fruit or vegetable right in their own classroom. Debra Buckner, supervisor of food services for Alleghany Highlands Public Schools, said she is excited to see the program come to MVES. “We are so excited that Mountain View was selected to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program,” Buckner said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce our students to fresh foods they may not have tried before, while also making healthy eating a fun part of their school day. We are grateful for the opportunity and for the support of our teachers and staff as we bring this new program to our school community.” The program is designed to be more than a snack. It gives teachers an opportunity to incorporate nutrition education into the school day and encourages students to think about the foods they eat and the choices they make. Each snack is delivered to classrooms before the start of the school day in an insulated bag with an ice pack to help keep the food cold until it is served. Snacks are served the same day they are received, and any leftovers are discarded. Teachers also will receive simple educational materials, including fun-fact sheets and coloring pages. These activities can be used while students enjoy their snacks, giving classrooms another way to connect food, nutrition and learning. The program also supports the broader goals of Farm to School Month by helping students develop an appreciation for fresh, nutritious foods while learning about the journey food takes from farms to their tables. Cynthia Morgan, director of instruction for AHPS, said bringing FFVP to Mountain View has been a collaborative effort involving teachers, staff and the school community. She thanked those who will help make the program part of the school routine and recognized Buckner for helping bring the program to the school. “We are excited to begin this journey with our students, teachers and staff,” Morgan said. “We hope this program opens the door to new foods, new experiences and healthy habits that our students can carry with them beyond the classroom. Most of all, we are grateful for the opportunity to bring something new and positive to our school community.” The Farm to School Month celebration will continue Oct. 8, when Alleghany Highlands Public Schools students will participate in the “Crunch Heard ’Round the Commonwealth.” Students will join schools across Virginia in biting into Virginia-grown apples at the same time, creating a statewide crunch and celebrating the connection between Virginia agriculture and schools.

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