Nearly 600 fortunate students enrolled in Harrison's Kennedy Elementary and Hamilton Intermediate Schools are going to have a "fruitful" year of learning; in part, due to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), a federally assisted program which provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to children at eligible elementary schools during the school day.
For the 2025-2026 school year, Harrison Public Schools will receive FFVP grants of $19,152.00 for Kennedy Elementary and $17,214.00 for Hamilton Intermediate Schools.
At the kick-off event held at Kennedy Elementary School, Pomptonian Food Service (district food service provider) was on-hand in Mrs. Lyndsey McQuillen's first grade class to bring the first crop of healthy goodies, consisting a of husk cherries (from the tomatillo family) and rainbow carrots—a mix of colorful carrot varieties, including orange, yellow, purple, and white; quite an ambitious selection for 6 year olds.
"I tried the cherries and I liked them a lot", said first grader, Natasha Villafane Fernandez. "I'm going to tell my mom about them", she added.
"I never had white carrots before, but they were really good, especially with the ranch dip", said classmate Daniel Pena.
The goal of the FFVP is to introduce children to in-season and locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among children. A recent USDA study found that FFVP students eat more fruits and vegetables than students who do not participate in the program.
Kennedy Elementary School Principal, Kim Huaranga, added, "The FFVP is an amazing opportunity for students to try new foods that they might not be exposed to otherwise. And the best part is they send info about upcoming offerings; so not only are students enjoying the tasty afternoon treats, but they're also learning about what's in-season, where it's grown, nutritional value, etc. It's all quite a learning experience for our students".
The Harrison Public Schools district is appreciative of our federal, state, and local governments, the Harrison Board of Education, our wonderful teachers, administrators, staff, food service personnel, parents, and students, in making the FFVP a resounding success.
