Cafeteria/School Programs
Take a Bite of BCTake a Bite of BC was developed by BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation in partnership with the BC Culinary Arts Association, BC agricultural commodity groups and BC producers. BC grown products are donated to the program and delivered to participating school teaching kitchens once a month throughout the school year with the exclusion of December, March and June.
The program provides an opportunity for Chef Instructors to feature locally grown product in secondary school teaching kitchens. Students gain experience working with fresh products and begin to develop an appreciation for farmers in their community as they connect with the foods that are grown around them and learn about the benefits of eating healthy, fresh and local. Check out some of the dishes our Culinary Students created using fabulous Take a Bite of BC products!!
Beef and baby Potato chowder
Cranberry, Gala Apple and sage stuffed pork tenderloin..yum!!!
Beef and Italian Sausage Lasagne with Campari tomatoes and mozzarella cheese!
Banana Oatmeal Streusel Topped Muffins
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BCAITCBC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) is a non-profit, charitable organization that works with educators to bring local agriculture to BC’s students. BCAITC was founded in 1982 by a small group of farmers, teachers, and agriculture enthusiasts who had a passion for teaching about agriculture, and since then, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds! Established as a registered society in BC in 1999, we maintain charitable status with Canada Revenue Agency and continue our work through the support of private donors and BC’s agriculture community. We also work with the BC Ministry of Health, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, and the BC Ministry of Education to manage a major healthy schools program, the BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP).
BCAITC is governed by a Board of Directors represented by agri-food business leaders, farmers, educators, and health professionals. We provide several programs that connect students in BC public, First Nations, and independent schools to agriculture and healthy eating. Through our programs, students learn about where their food comes from, how to grow their own food, and why farms and agriculture play such an important role in our communities and society. Our Mission Statement
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BCSFVNPFulton Secondary is fortunate to participate in the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program.
This means that twice a month, a fresh fruit or vegetable is delivered to each student to sample. About the BCSFVNP The BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP) grew from an idea formed in 2004. Similar programs in the USA and the UK were having great success providing students with fresh local fruit and vegetable programs in their schools. Why not try a similar program in BC? The BC Ministries of Agriculture, Education and Health selected the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) to implement a pilot program here in BC. As a non-profit organization dedicated to working to bring BC’s agriculture to students, we were a natural choice. Already working closely with schools, producers, suppliers and distributors, we knew all about BC grown produce and were proud supporters of BC farmers. The Program has grown from an initial launch of 10 schools in 2005 to 1,464 BC K-12 public schools and K-12 BC First Nations schools in the 2015/2016 school year. With the help of our 1,241 volunteers and incredible partners we now provide fresh fruit and vegetable snacks every other week, 13 times in the school year, to over 549,000 students. Many of those students are now making fruits and vegetables a part of their regular diet – both at school and at home. They are learning that eating fresh, local products supports our local farmers and the economies of rural regions. They are also learning first hand about the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, while finding out how great they taste. What are the objectives of the BCSFVNP?
Eating fruits and vegetables is essential for good health. Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends that we should all eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Many children eat much less. In fact, research shows that only 1 out of 4 children eat this daily requirement. Our snacks are served during class time, so a teacher can use this opportunity to engage students in discussion about fruits and vegetables and healthy eating habits. Many children will be trying a food for the first time and will love how good these snacks taste and make them feel. These are the building blocks towards a lifetime of healthy eating. Who funds the BCSFVNP? The BCSFVNP is a collaborative program from the provincial government’s Healthy Families BC with funding from the BC Ministry of Health. It is administered through the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to “Working to bring BC’s agriculture to our students.” The Foundation works with local growers and distributors to bring the fresh BC products to students. Want to learn more? View our short BCSFVNP video to learn more about the Program and find out how schools throughout the province are helping students to make the connection between the health of their bodies and the health of local agriculture. |