Governor has lunch with Brandon kids - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Governor has lunch with Brandon kids

Governor Phil Bryant and state Commerce Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith ate lunch with students Tuesday at Rouse Elementary in Brandon, all in an effort to help kick off Mississippi's first Farm to School week.

The Farm to School concept encourages schools and other institutions to add more healthy foods on the lunch plate. Created by the state legislature, the program shows increased fruit and vegetable consumption in students. It also increases revenue for Mississippi farmers by purchasing products that are locally grown and raised.

Allen Eubanks, the owner of Eubanks Produce, says, "Closer you can get the product the fresher its going to be. It's gonna help benefit the farmers as well as the community it's grown in and the school system also, it just benefits everyone all the way round."

Governor Bryant says, "We have challenges for the most obese state in the nation so teaching the children to eat healthy, letting them know we grow healthy products that have a variety of food they can get a salad they can get fruit and get vegetables here."

The farm to school week goes from October 1st through the 5th.

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