The Urban School Food Alliance (the Alliance), a coalition of the largest school districts in the United States that includes New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade, Dallas and Orange County in Orlando, celebrates Fresh Attitude Week from May 9-13, 2016. In collaboration with the French Department of Agriculture and in partnership with Interfel (French Inter-Branch Association of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables which created Fresh Attitude Week), Fresh Attitude Week has now become an annual event in America, along with France and Italy, to highlight fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals. This year, school districts in Chicago and New York will also host a French delegation to exchange ideas on how to encourage students to make healthy food choices.

During Fresh Attitude Week, the French delegation will meet city leaders, tour campuses to learn about how school gardens play an important role in food service as well as meet farmers and visit local farms where school food is grown. “Our organization has been working for 40 years in the fight against childhood obesity by implementing actions that encourage the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Bruno Dupont, president of Interfel. “During Fresh Attitude Week, we will not only serve fresh items that students are familiar with in schools,” said Leslie Fowler, executive director of Nutrition Support Services at Chicago Public Schools. “We will also introduce them to new fruits and vegetables to expand their palates and attitude towards food. Many inner city students live in food deserts with little access to fresh items, so we believe it is important to educate them about a variety of produce available in the marketplace.” For Fresh Attitude Week, the six school districts in the Alliance will conduct activities such as:

• Highlight student-created vegetable recipes
• Host local farmers’ visits to educate students about “farm-to-school” efforts
• Offer fresh and healthy recipes from France and around the country for families to try at home

Photo Credit: Urban School Food Alliance

Photo Caption:
French Delegation visits Finkl Elementary School on Tuesday, May 10th.