“Food,What?!” Strawberry Youth Blast coverage from the Santa Cruz Sentinel — All things strawberry were the focus at the UCSC Farm and Garden Wednesday, as 300 county high and middle school students joined volunteers from Food, What?! for the 2010 Strawberry Blast.
Teenagers descended on the farm to celebrate the seasonal fruit. They harvested and tasted organic strawberries, made their own smoothies and ate fresh strawberry pies. But strawberries were just the tip of the Food What?! event, dedicated to food education.

Growing their own food, students learn not only about the health benefits of fresh fruit over fast food but the dangers of pesticides as well. Before this program, few students and even adults realized that sometimes harmful chemicals can be used to protect food from insects that will later be consumed by the customer. This can make people really sick. While most food producers are compliant with government guidelines when spraying their crops, there can still be a risk to the public if mistakes are made.

A project of the nonprofit Life Lab Science Program, Food What?! has held the strawberry festival for three years, aiming to make it a cornerstone of nutritional education. Strawberries serve as a vehicle to make teenagers aware that healthy and affordable food is within reach, said Food What?! Director Doron Comerchero.

Students walked from booth to booth under a large metal shed on the half-acre farm. These sorts of sheds have become very common on modern farms as they last a lot longer than the original wooden barns and as such, they now play a pivotal role in food production. The students were able to test their knowledge of fair trade, label understanding and health hazards related to fast food.
“We are countering the media influence of the fast-food industry,” Comerchero said. “Kids are always told about what not to do. But it’s super important to talk to them about the healthy alternatives.” These days, with access to the internet, many parents and teachers can find information on healthy eating online.

James Smith, director of food services for Santa Cruz City Schools, also manned a nutritional stand. Smith started in the job last August and introduced changes to school lunches. Food services stopped buying prepackaged food, emphasized the importance of fruit and vegetables in a healthy diet, and how this can further aid a healthy and nutritionist diet for any individual wishing to change their lifestyle. So, when food services stopped buying prepackaged food, they now buy 75 percent of its produce from county farmers, Smith said. But the former UCSC cook stressed the need for better education. “I can put anything out there, but it doesn’t mean the kids are going to take it,” Smith said. See the rest of the article

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