The Grayson County Board of Education’s food services is proud to serve locally grown produce to the students as part of the lunch program.

Last school year Kristy Hodges, Food Service Director for the school system, received a shipment of strawberries from their usual supplier and that shipment did not meet the standards that were required to be served to local school children.

Hodges went to the local farmers market and purchased fresh strawberries from Van Meter Family Farms and served those.

“The fresh strawberries were such a hit that I thought we would try to get other produce from local farmers if possible,” said Hodges. “In order to serve the local vegetables Van Meter Farms needed to meet the requirements of the Kentucky Proud Program.”

Hodges checked with Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Kentucky Proud program, which allows schools to purchase produce directly from farmers and contacted Van Meter with the programs requirements.

The program is set up help small farmers to sell products on larger scale. Van Meter applied for and received certification to become Kentucky Proud members.

“To become members we had to complete certain paperwork along with taking some training,” said Van Meter. “We did what was required and now we can supply fresh vegetables to the Grayson County Schools.”

Over the summer Hodges discussed a partnership with Danny Van Meter to expand services and other items from the local farm on the school menus.

Hodges and Van Meter discussed which food items would be feasible to offer to the students and decided on those currently offered.

“Although fresh corn on the cob sounds great in theory, it is not feasible for the staff to shuck corn for 4,300 students,” said Hodges. “We chose to purchase items for the freshness, while still remaining cost-effective and not increasing labor.”

On Monday, August 16th, tomato and onion slices from Van Meter Farms were on the menu in elementary schools. These items went along with the hamburger menu.

“Watermelon has been a pretty big hit so far as well,” said Hodges. “The fresh vegetables are offered on elementary salad plates on select days. Grayson County Middle School and High School have been able to utilize the fresh produce daily on the salad bars as well.”

The schools receive deliveries of the fresh fruits and vegetables on Mondays.

“We receive watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions shipments delivered to all six local public schools when they are on the school menu,” said Hodges. “The great thing about offering these items is that they are picked either the day before or the day of delivery.”

The school system is very pleased with the produce and service from Van Meter Farms.

“We will continue to offer the fresh garden vegetables until the end of the season, around September 30,” said Hodges. “Grayson County Schools is proud to offer nutritious items for the students, while also supporting a local farmer.”

Van Meter Farms meets the requirements of the Kentucky Proud Program. In addition, Danny Van Meter, owner of Van Meter Family Farms, has completed the Good Agricultural Practices educational program, and is a Kentucky Master Gardener.