Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–At the local school cafeteria, the students of the lunchroom had the opportunity to enjoy fresh apples from Warren Orchards first hand during lunch last Wednesday.

Local produce was the topic for Taste Washington Day which has become “an annual celebration of Washington grown foods served in school meals during the fall harvest season,’’ said Assistant to the Superintendent, Food Service Director, Accounts Payable Administrator, Scholarship Coordinator Jana Eaton, who organized this occasion.

Every year on Taste Washington Day, school lunchrooms in Washington celebrate by enjoying produce from local farms and orchards incorporated in their usual cafeteria lunch. Dayton School District was able to gift students with the delight of Apples and Pears from our local Warren Orchards, and Nectarines and Pluots from the Yakima Valley.

The kids of Dayton were happy with this celebration, enjoying the larger selection of fresh fruits which is not commonly offered. Elementary schoolers were all smiles as they enjoyed their food, and mentioned that they “love the fruit!”

Washington State has provided large amounts of staple foods to the community and our country for decades.

This day is a way to celebrate local farms, and the wide agricultural business and history of Washington, and a great way to introduce it to the youth of the community. Not only does this introduce the importance of agriculture and local business to our youth, but also the importance of healthy living, eating well, and eating whole foods.