Northgate Crossing Elementary students have plenty of fresh fruit to choose from as they pass through the serving line.

HOUSTON – March 31, 2017 – Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller honored the Spring Independent School District’s Child Nutrition Services department with a 2017 Best of Bunch Award for its ability to incorporate local ingredients in school menus. Spring scored by including Alpha Pizza, Kurz Bread, Ruiz Tamales and Borden Milk into its menus.

“The department of Agriculture encourages districts to include local products on their menus during National School Lunch Week,” said Shelly Copeland, Spring ISD child nutrition director. “You are also required to provide education to students about local products. All of the items incorporated into the menu were sourced from the Houston area and we were able to provide our students with easy to read information about the products we used. We try to buy locally and include fresh produce in our meals throughout the year as much as possible.”

According to TDA, participation in the Local Products Challenge continues to grow each year. More than 140 school districts participated in this year’s challenge, and 77 of those earned a Best of Bunch Award.

“Teaching children about healthy lifestyles and the importance of agriculture by introducing them to nutritious, Texas-grown foods is a top priority at TDA,” Miller said. “When our school nutrition partners accepted our Local Products Challenge, they strengthened Texas agriculture and demonstrated their commitment to developing good nutritional habits for the young Texans they serve and their local communities.”