VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Over the past three weeks, students at Jefferson and Washington Elementary
Schools have had the opportunity to learn about, taste, and compare three varieties of microgreens as part of a hands-on Farm to School experience.
Through the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grant, Valley City Public Schools Food service Department provides fresh fruit or vegetable snacks to elementary classrooms three times each week. This regular exposure to a variety of fresh foods gives students the chance to explore new flavors and textures, build confidence in trying unfamiliar foods, and develop healthy eating habits.
Microgreens are young vegetable seedlings harvested shortly after their first true leaves emerge. These small greens are packed with nutrients and are often used in salads or as toppings and garnishes. Students discovered that microgreens can also make a tasty snack.
Morgan Cristl of Earth to Jar Botanicals in Fargo grew the microgreens especially for Valley City students, delivered them to the schools, and visited classrooms to explain how they are grown.
Students sampled sunflower microgreens, a favorite for their familiar nutty flavor, and compared them with sunflower seeds. They also tasted pea shoots alongside sugar snap peas and broccoli microgreens alongside broccoli florets, exploring similarities and differences in flavor and texture.
Valley City Public Schools thanks Morgan Cristl and Earth to Jar Botanicals for helping bring this engaging Farm to School learning opportunity to elementary students. Experiences like this connect classroom learning with agriculture, nutrition, and healthy food choices.
