Lodi Unified School District
Teaching Kids about Agriculture & the Importance of Nutrition
Hey Kiddos !
At Lodi USD Nutrition Services, we're all about serving nutritious and delicious meals to over 27,000 students at 50 school sites! We believe meals should be made from the heart. Our menu features scratch - made, fresh, locally grown foods that are good for you and taste great too. Even during the summer months, we're still out there making sure kids all around our community have access to healthy meals. Last summer alone, we served up over 250,000 meals! We are on a mission of love; making sure that our kiddos have access to Fresh, Flavorful, & Fabulous food, while learning healthy eating habits all year long. Curious about what we're cooking up? Follow us on Instagram @ lodiusd_nutritionservices where we share how we bring locally grown, scratch - made meals straight to your plate. Join us on this tasty adventure !
Your fan � ,
Dr. Betty Crocker, RDN, SNS, Director III
Why They Are Good For You & Where They Came From…
Free Spirit Farm
Rancho La Familia
Strawberries
California produces nearly 90% of all strawberries grown in the U.S.
1 acre of land can produce 50,000 pounds of strawberries.
Strawberries are a type of aggregate fruit.
Strawberries are the FIRST fruit to ripen in the spring.
Peak strawberry harvesting season is April - June.
Strawberries are grown on only 1% of California’s farmland.
Main types of strawberries: June-Bearing, Ever-Bearing & Day-Neutral. strawberry has 200 seeds.
Strawberries are the ONLY fruit with seeds on the outside.
Strawberries are a part of the rose family.
Terra Firma Farm
Terra Firma Farm is a non-traditional family farm that was started in the 1980s.
Farm grows a WIDE variety of produce.
of Terra Firma Farm is organic, the other 5% is in the transition to organic.
“Our farm is as much about people as it is about produce.”
This farm is owned by 3 families: Holmes family, Melendez family & 200 acres.
Winters,CA
“Our farm to your fork. ”
Terra Firma Farms offers visitors to pick their own produce
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Crossword Puzzle
Answers found in the Lodi USD Berry magazine.
Down:
1. 95% of Terra Firma Farm is _____.
3. _____ produces nearly 90% of all strawberries grown in the U.S.
4. Strawberries are the only fruit to have _____ on the outside.
6. Vitamin C supports the _____ system.
7. All strawberries are picked by _____.
9. Vitamin C helps to boost _____.
Across:
2. Strawberries contain this nutrient.
5. Strawberries are a type of _____ fruit.
8. The first fruit to ripen in the spring.
10. Terra Firma Farm is located in _____, California.
Blackberries
California is known for the California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus).
Blackberries are a type of aggregate fruit.
Aggregate fruits are made up of “drupelets” – around 80 on each blackberry.
Blackberries are a member of the rose family.
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Main Types of Blackberries:
1. Thorny
2. Thornless
3. Trailing Thornless
375 species of blackberries.
Navaho thornless blackberries are known to be the sweetest.
A blackberry plant can live for 20 years.
Blackberry plants are perennials, meaning they will grow back year after year.
Free Spirit Farm
organic farm
Toby Hastings.
Free Spirit Farm was established through a creative partnership with the Based Learning.
Free Spirit Farm was started in 2008. Offers visitors to pick their own produce!
Toby grows 40+ different kinds of vegetables and 12 kinds of fruit trees.
Winters,
Free Spirit Farms has a unique way of growing blackberries with a trellis system.
Free Spirit Farm is home to 8 acres of sustainably grown produce.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports proper blood function, bone growth & kidney health. The body has the ability to create vitamin K on its own.
2 main forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2. soluble which means…
Vitamin K helps the body heal from wounds.
It absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like olive oil!
Vitamin K helps produce proteins that bind themselves to calcium - this helps build strong bones.
Vitamin K supports heart health.
Vitamin K is found throughout the body in the liver, brain, heart, pancreas & bones. Vitamin K plays a role in proper blood function- specifically with clotting.
Word Search
Aggregate Fruit Blackberry Drupelets
Navaho Thornless Organic
Perennial Rose Family Strong Bones Sweet Free Spirit Farm
Trellis System Vitamin K
Raspberries
Raspberries are a type of aggregate fruit.
Every raspberry contains 100-120 small seeds.
with cool summers & mild winters.
JSM Organics
JSM Organics is a family owned & operated farm that was started in 2012.
JSM Organics was founded by Javier Zamora. JSM Organics grows a variety of berries, vegetables &
Home to 200 acres of farmland.
120 of the 200 acres are a part of a conservation easement.
JSM Organics offers visitors to pick their own produce.
RoyalOaks,CA
All of their produce is packed compostable containers. Javier helps many new farmers start their own farms.
Fiber
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system.
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body doesn’t digest, it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and removes cholesterol form the blood stream.
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
2 types of fiber:
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Fiber is ONLY found in plant foods.
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health.
Crossword Puzzle
Answers found in the Lodi USD Berry magazine.
2. Raspberries are a type of _____ fruit.
4. Raspberries are a member of the _____ family.
5. Raspberries can be red, purple, gold or _____.
8. Fiber is only found in _____ foods.
1. _____ was founded by Javier Zamora.
3. Raspberries contain this type of nutrient.
6. JSM Organics is located in _____, California.
7. All of JSM Organics’ produce is packed in _____ containers.
9. Raspberry plants can live up to _____ years.
10. Fiber supports movement through the _____ system.
Blueberries
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Most California commercial blueberry farms are located in San Joaquin Valley.
Types of Blueberries:
1. Highbush 2. Lowbush
3. Hybrid Half-High 4. Rabbiteye
Highbush blueberries are the most common.
Blueberries are native to North America.
California’s blueberry harvest runs from April through June.
The waxy coating on blueberries is called “bloom.”
JULY is National Blueberry Month!
1 blueberry bush can produce 6,000 blueberries/year.
Blueberries are one the ONLY food naturally blue in color.
Lowbush blueberries are smaller & sweeterperfect for making jam!
Rancho La Familia
Rancho La Familia started out with only 10 acres of land but has grown to now cultivating
Rancho La Familia is a small, family owned & operated farm.
Rancho La Familia was started by Virginia Cortez & Luis Guevara over 15 years ago.
The farm is run by Virginia, Luis and their 2 sons. A California Certified Organic Farm (CCOF)
B Vitamins
B Vitamins help support the body’s energy levels, brain function & cell metabolism
essential B vitamins:
Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5,
Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9 & Vitamin B12.
Water is needed to help the body absorb B vitamins.
B5, B12, C and E knock on your door…what do you do?
B vitamins helps the body make energy from food.
be regularly consumed.
B vitamins plays a role in serotonin production. Serotonin makes us feel happy
Word Search
B Vitamins Bloom Blueberry
Highbush July
Lowbush Organic Rabbiteye
Rancho La Familia Energy
Santa Maria Sweet
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