State gives $2.5 million for fruit /vegetables to offer to students….

The Grand Rapids Press   03/06/12  Monica Scott

“State spending $2.5 milllion to meeting growing demand for fruit and vegetables in school meals”

http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/03/state_spending_255_million_to.html

Michigan school districts are using more fresh produce in their school meals, the state Department of Education reported today, assessing how demand has grown.

“Schools are clamoring for fresh produce to serve to their students,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. “This program helps provide the means to bring fresh food into our school breakfast and lunch programs.”

The state is utilizing $2.5 million in federal funds this school year to purchase fresh produce, compared to $1.8 million allocated in previous years.

The Fresh Produce program, funded through the U.S. Department of Defense in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foods program, offers schools a wider variety of fresh produce than would normally be available through USDA purchases.

Common Sense Review

$2.5 million to purchase produce for kid’s lunches?  When I was in school there always fruit/vegetables available, I remember very few students ate them.  So is the $2.5 million spent to offer produce or are the kids actually eat the fruit?

It is frustrating to read about Fed, state and local govt throwing money at a problem to show they care but “don’t understand” why it doesn’t work.  Throwing money at an issue doesn’t solve the problem, it masks it.