Jones Cove Elementary Students Enjoy Tasty Days Program

Jones Cove Elementary Students (K-2) tasted vegetables and fruits weekly for one month during the Tasty Days Program. UT Extension, Sevier County Master Gardeners, and Gatlinburg Food City sponsored the event. Whitney Hammonds, PE Instructor, coordinated the classroom schedule to allow children to sample fresh produce each week, including kiwi, spinach and tomatoes. In addition to tasting, children were taught about the origin, growing and nutritional value of the fruit or vegetable. Parents were given take home newsletters and recipes promoting the weekly-featured produce.

Joan Falsone – Master Gardener; Whitney Hammonds – Jones Cove Teacher; Janis Shirley – Master Gardener and Brett Brock – Food City

Evaluations showed about 51% of the children tasted various vegetables for the first time. About 88% even like spinach. One teacher commented, “The kids were so excited every week to see what new things they were going to taste.”

For more information about this Tasty Days Program, you may contact Linda Hyder, UT Extension at 865-453-3695.