Public schools across the country are getting rid of soda and junk food. Many are replacing that with fresh fruits and vegetables from their back yards. Gardening is a popular trend in Massachusetts. WGBH’s Tina Martin spent time in Framingham where students are growing the foods they eat.
The garden at Framingham high school is full of good food.
Brendan Ryan runs the food service department, these beautiful greens will go from the school grounds to the school cafeteria trays.
“Everything that we grow in the garden actually is 100% used in the schools. It’s, that’s why we grow such late harvest crop plants, this way that they’re harvesting right as the students are come back,” he said.
This summer Ryan is overseeing students who are working on the crops. Constance Yeboh and Peter Jones are learning how to grow food for the first time.
Junior, Peter Jones, said, “Well it’s like when you do it yourself you see how long it usually actually takes for the food to grow, so when you actually eat it you’re more likely to take your time cause you know it takes a long time to actually grow it.”
The garden is more than half the length of a football field which makes it one of the largest in the state, but it’s not the only one. Public gardens are popping up everywhere to try and teach students about eating right and where their food comes from.
There are about 200 gardens in public schools statewide, which is right in line with first lady Michelle Obama’s national push for healthy eating.
“Absolutely. This all has to do with sustainability, farm-to-fork, plow-to-plate, all those catch phrases, and it’s all about that whole movement and getting back to what real food is and to minimize processed foods in front of students and at least the younger generations, you know,” said Ryan.
Peter Jones is literally enjoying the fruits, or vegetables of his labor. “I like the tomatoes,” he said.
