On Thursday, October 9, Durand School District participated in Great Apple Crunch Day. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Great Apple Crunch Day is an annual event that encourages healthy eating habits and buying from local stores. Great Apple Crunch Day is a midwestern event and is held during National Farm to School Month.
“The idea for this comes from the Illinois Farm to School network and it’s all about getting fresh local produce into schools, but especially urban schools,” Agriculture teacher Emily Backeberg said.
Great Apple Crunch Day encourages schools to bring fresh produce into schools and to buy it from local farmers. It is very important for urban areas.
“It takes roughly 10 hours to plan. The planning on the backend is getting approval from the administration, getting the class lists, communicating with the apple orchard, getting the apples, and handing them out. It’s much easier this year because of breakfast,” Backeberg said.
Usually, all of the apples would be handed out during class. The changes in the bell schedule have made it easier for high school students to participate in Great Apple Crunch Day.
”I help a lot with Great Apple Crunch Day because I’m in the Agricultural Communications and Leadership class which is the Great Apple Crunch planning committee,” Sophomore Hailey Kinney said.
The Ag classes help Mrs. Backeberg organize Great Apple Crunch Day. Their tasks include bagging the apples, labeling them, and handing them out.
“I enjoy bringing agriculture representation throughout the school on Great Apple Crunch Day,” Kinney said.
Great Apple Crunch Day teaches children about agriculture. It brings more representation to agriculture and can encourage kids to learn more about the food that they eat.
