2012 Pizza Gardens Announced for Local Schools

Mecklenburg County > Health Department > Top News

1/6/2012

The Health Department is bringing “Field to Fork” Pizza Gardens to 14 CMS elementary classrooms to teach students about gardening, nutrition and cooking.

Students celebrate receiving Pizza Garden at their schools

The Mecklenburg County Health Department has partnered with Fuel Pizza Café of Charlotte along with the Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), and Charlotte Green to bring “Field to Fork” Pizza Gardens to 14 CMS elementary classrooms. The Pizza Garden concept appeals to children and teens by growing vegetables and herbs to make a healthy pizza.

“The Fuel Pizza Field to Fork Program is a great experience for students to engage in teamwork while learning about gardening, nutrition education and cooking” said Katie Cooper, program coordinator of the program. The Fuel Pizza Field to Fork Program was started in 2010 with five elementary schools and expanded to 10 schools in 2011. In 2012, the program will involve 14 elementary schools with the help of funding through a grant provided by The 704 Project.

The 14 CMS schools who are receiving Pizza Gardens at their schools, along with nutrition and cooking education and an end-of-year pizza party from Fuel Pizza Café, are:

Barringer Academic Center
Polo Ridge Elementary
Elizabeth Traditional Elementary
Allenbrook Elementary
J.H. Gunn Elementary
Winterfield Elementary
Providence Spring Elementary
Endhaven Elementary
Pinewood Elementary
Selwyn Elementary
Highland Mill Montessori
Sharon Elementary
Chantilly Montessori
Shamrock Gardens Elementary

"The Pizza Gardens give us an excellent platform to teach youth about healthy eating using a food they love," said Zach Current from Fuel Pizza. "It is our pleasure to partner with the schools and the community to make this unique project available."

For more information, visit Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition, Fuel Pizza Café or Charlotte Green.

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