GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — As kids prepare to go back to school this week, officials with Gaston County Schools are preparing to provide more healthy options in the lunchroom.
The district is planning on expanding its farm-to-school program to ensure the garden is producing fresh, nutritious food year-round.
To make that happen, Gaston County Schools are partnering with Deep Roots CPS Farm, an urban farm located on a 7-acre homestead in west Charlotte. The goal is to take an all-organic approach, offering food that is both nutritious and delicious.
Cherie and Wisdom Jzar, the farm's founders, started Deep Roots Farm in 2019. Their goal was to bring fresher options to the dinner table.
"We wanted to have healthier food options for our children," Cherie told WCNC Charlotte's Tradesha Woodard.
Now, the Jzar's job has them working to fill the bellies of thousands of other kids too, since the farm has partnered with Gaston County Schools to provide fresh veggies in the school cafeterias.
"In the fall we'll be growing leafy greens, which students definitely need," Cherie explained. "We'll be growing some squash because they want to be able to provide a healthy salad."
Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows kids benefit from eating healthy. These benefits include supporting brain development, healthy growth and immunity.
The district said the food upgrade is also cost-efficient -- They're only spending about $4,000 a month to maintain the garden, which is a steal as food prices continue to rise.
The Jzars are now expanding the garden to more than a half-acre to grow even more fresh veggies, district-wide.
"The value really is what it is doing for the children," Wisdom said. "Especially because we're giving it to the most important part of our community ... our children."
Gaston County School officials said there are also plans to double the number of planting beds and possibly add strawberry plants and blueberry bushes.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.