New York Harvest Featured in School Cafeterias for ‘Big Apple Crunch’

Oct 27, 2023 | Bell Top, Columbia, District, Food Services, Genet, Goff, Green Meadow, Pre-K, Red Mill, Sutherland

Students holding apples for the Big Apple Crunch

Green Meadow students celebrating the Big Apple Crunch by enjoying New York State apples at lunch.

As the saying goes “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But a New York apple on Wednesday did that and more, bringing out big smiles from students.

School cafeterias served delicious New York State apples and homemade chili for lunch on Wednesday as part of the Big Apple Crunch. The Big Apple Crunch, sponsored by the NYS Education Department and FarmOn! Foundation, takes place every October and invites New Yorkers to take a bite out of an apple grown in New York to celebrate the apple harvest and to inspire residents to eat local.

All district schools participated in the Big Apple Crunch, serving McIntosh apples with lunch from Samascott Orchards and Windy Hill Orchards. Additionally, the Food Services department prepared homemade chili made with New York tomatoes and kidney beans, and served it with New York celery and milk.

“The Big Apple Crunch is an opportunity each October to show our students where their food comes from,” said Food Service Manager Colleen Wise. “Apples from Windy Hill Orchard were delivered from right down the road, a place so many of our students have been.

“I am dedicated to building relationships with local producers and farmers to increase the amount of NYS products that are on our student’s trays,” she continued.