Trent students finding fresh palates

Six-year-old Vanessa Anderson cautiously put her hand in a bowl of cold spaghetti and pulled out an odd-looking green thing.

The Trent Elementary first-grader was taking part in a “Fear Factor”-like food game at the school’s fall harvest festival Monday.

“Avocado … I’ve never seen one before,” she said.

Because of a Department of Agriculture food and nutrition grant, students at Trent are becoming familiar with lots of foods they’ve never seen before.

They’ve tasted jicama, broccolini (a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale), mustard greens, star fruit and black seedless grapes the size of plums.

“I’m surprised at the ability of the students to be adventurous and at least try different foods. It’s a great opportunity to learn about all the things that are available,” said Principal Anali Weatherhead.

Trent Elementary and Shaw Middle schools are among 25 statewide to receive the competitive grant.

The grant provides Trent’s 476 students, 65 preschoolers, staff, parents and school visitors with free fresh produce every day.

“Kids learn how to become healthy eaters, and it also supports local farmers,” said Pam Timmer, a reading specialist who coordinates the program with school cook Sherry Johnson.

Walters’ Fruit Ranch in Greenbluff, Charlie’s Produce in Spokane, and American Produce Express in Omak provide the produce.

The school’s first harvest festival was a way to celebrate the school’s new program. On Monday students and their parents sampled a variety of apples, pumpkin smoothies and edible flowers.

Weatherhead said the Second Harvest Food Bank planned to distribute 3,000 pounds of free food to Trent Elementary families Monday night. Eighty-three percent of the school’s students qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Washington State University’s Food Sense Program also teaches nutrition and food preparation classes at the school.

“It’s great to know that the kids are getting fresh fruit every day,” said Keni Shores, a mom with four children at the school.