Oct. 21, 2025
Springfield Public Schools students are participating in the Missouri Crunch Off in celebration of Farm to School month with fresh, locally grown apples!
On Monday, Oct. 20, every SPS elementary school started the week with an apple crunch! The apples were Jonathan apples grown right here in Missouri at Peters Orchard. This delicious celebration not only encourages students to make healthy food choices, but also teaches them about locally grown produce.
In Ms. Cook’s class at Bingham Elementary, students learned that there are 7,500 types of apples in the world. SPS Registered Dietitian Christi Mackey also taught the students about the history of the Jonathan apples they were eating that day and helped them identify the flavors they tasted.
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides a variety of free, fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to children at eligible SPS elementary schools. A USDA study found that FFVP students eat more fruits and vegetables than students who do not participate in the program. Snacks and educational lessons like the one delivered with the Crunch Off encourage children to try new foods, learn about seasonal produce and set healthy eating habits to last a lifetime.
