When Ranch San Justo Middle School staff noticed about half of the students were not eating lunch but cleaning out the school food bank on Thursdays, they asked why. The simple answer was that the students didn’t like the food from the cafeteria.
In response, Principal Vicky Smith and Student Nutrition Director Ann Pennington thought to try something different: let the kids choose what’s on the menu for next school year.
Over 15 vendors attended a taste testing on May 15, where about 900 students came through the gym during their physical education period to try food from each table. Students voted for their favorite, and the winner will be among the vendors providing food for the school going forward.
“The kids are loving it and they get a voice,” said Principal Vicky Smith.
Watsonville Coast Produce, which supplies fresh produce to the schools in the Hollister School District, said they were surprised at the number of fresh fruits and vegetables that the kids chose. Along with fresh produce, students could make their own smoothies with San Benito County Public Health Services and try several kinds of roasted nuts from Heart Ridge. Main courses included vegetable “meatballs,” sweet potato fries and beef burritos.
Sixth-grader Rylee Park told BenitoLink she loved the food and loved that students could choose.
“They are respecting our opinion,” Park said.
Other participants included Schwan’s Food, Don Lee Farm Foods, Integrated Food Service, Ardella’s, Food 4 Kids (representing S.A. Piazza, Fat Cat Scones and Heart Ridge), Buena Vista Foods, Rich Chicks K-12, Safe & Fair Food, and Upstate Farms.
Ardella’s won the student vote for the best food. The company, along with nine other top choices will supply food for the school next year. Results will be available by the end of the month.
You must be logged in to post a comment.