District recognized for farm-to-school efforts

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The Fayette County School System has received its second consecutive Golden Radish Award for its farm to school achievements.

The school system received the 2016 Golden Radish Award at the silver level, stepping up from last year’s bronze level award, for accomplishments in different areas of farm to school for the 2015-2016 school year. Fayette is among just 10 school systems that received the silver level award. A total of 53 Georgia school systems received the honor either at the gold, silver, bronze, or honorary level.

The award recognizes school systems for all aspects of farm to school initiatives from local food procurement to hosting taste tests and gardening with students.

Accomplishments that earned the school system the award at the silver level include hosting 16 student taste tests, arranging for students to visit farms or having farmers visit students at school a total of 15 times, and organizing 41 hands-on student cooking and food activities.

The Georgia Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, and Education, as well as Georgia Organics sponsor the Golden Radish Award. School systems were presented with their awards during a special ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol on October 24.

In the above photo, School Nutrition Program Director Kokeeta Wilder and staff member Ginger McCann accept the Golden Radish Award during a special ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol.