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Three Asbury Park schools are among the 151 schools in the state awarded participation in the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program.

Barack Obama Elementary, Bradley Elementary, and Thurgood Marshall schools were chosen for the 2015-16 school year allocation that aims to set students on the road to improved lifelong dietary habits.

“Thousands of New Jersey school children will be eating Jersey Fresh produce when in season next school year,” NJ Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said.  “The program also teaches students about the food we grow in the Garden State and helps our local farmers.”

The $4.2 million U.S. Department of Agriculture award includes nutrition education for each of the schools, exposure to healthy foods, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Additional funds are available to schools who connect the FFVP grant with the Farm to School Program. To do so, schools must offer Jersey Fresh produce a minimum of two days each month from September to November and from April to June. Officials say 71 percent of the schools have agreed.

The FFVP grants were awarded in Monmouth and Ocean counties to:

Monmouth County

Barack Obama Elementary School, Asbury Park

Bradley Elementary, Asbury Park

Thurgood Marshall School, Asbury Park

Amerigo Anastasia Elementary School, Long Branch

George L. Catrambone School, Long Branch

Morris Avenue School, Long Branch

Ocean County

Bnos Bina Girls School, Lakewood

Bnos Melech, Lakewood

Bnot Yisrael, Lakewood

Cheder Bnei Torah 1, Lakewood

Cheder Bnei Torah 2, Lakewood

Clifton Avenue Grade School, Lakewood

Ella G. Clarke Elementary School, Lakewood

Lakewood ECCC 1, Lakewood

LECC 1 & 3, Lakewood

Oak Street School, Lakewood

Spruce Street School, Lakewood

To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, visit their Facebook, and Twitter pages.

[Photo courtesy of NJ Dept. of Agriculture] 

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