A Moncton school is partnering with a New Brunswick farm, to offer fresh fruit and vegetables to its students and their families.
Bessborough School has been holding fresh fruit Fridays for several years now, as a way of encouraging students to eat healthy.
Principal Nick Mattatall found a way to expand it, while benefiting a local farm at the same time. They have partnered with Strawberry Hill Farms, who took a bit of a hit, when Real Food Connections went out of business, “They are a non GMO, pesticide free farm, outside of Woodstock. They deliver every two weeks to Moncton, fresh veggie baskets. In the summer, they do fruit baskets. They have greenhouses that run throughout the year. They have fresh spinach throughout the year and other small greens. They are putting together a variety of different baskets for us that are a different price points, so they are affordable. It’s $15, $25 and $50 baskets that delivered every two weeks, so that people can have fresh New Brunswick produce.”
Mattatall says they also work with Belliveau Orchards to do apples and cider sales, in an effort to support as many New Brunswick farmers as they can.
Through their fresh fruit and vegetables program, the students have the opportunity to try things they haven’t before, like dragon fruit for instance.
Mattatall says the students have now begun encouraging their families to buy them at home.
