Robertson County Schools, TN - Produce Spotlight 2024

Robertson County Schools is proud to be participating in Farm to Student serving local foods & celebrating local farmers!

Robertson County School Nutrition’s vision is to provide high quality food choices and nutrition education to empower students to be successful at school and in life.

Celebrating local food, local farmers & nutrition education!

Lettuce| Apples | Potatoes | Cranberries

Tennessee can grow both spring and fall crops of lettuce due to its moderate climate.

Darker green lettuce leaves are MORE LEAST MOST

4

Lettuce prefers to grow in colder climates.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Lettuce is water. 95%

crisphead) is popular type of lettuce in the U.S.

Lettuce is a part of the sunflower family.

Lettuce is the

2nd most popular vegetable in the U.S.

Because of lettuce’s water %, it must always be eaten FRESH.

Butterhead

Crisphead

Looseleaf

Romaine

Vitamin A

Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.

see better at night more vivid colors during the day

How far can you read down this eye chart?

Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.

Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.

How do you know lettuce is good for the eyes? You never see a rabbit wearing glasses!

Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.

Tennessee is home to apple orchards all across the state. The U.S. is home to approximately 322,000 acres of apple orchards.

varieties of apples are grown in the U.S. 2,500+ 21% of apples are juiced.

An apple blossom is the flower that comes from an apple tree.

An apple tree takes at least 4 years to start producing fruit.

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 from

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.

Tennessee

Potatoes

Several potato varieties thrive in Tennessee’s climate & soils. These varieties include Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Kennebec & more!

U.S. farmers produce around 4.5 million pounds of potatoes every hour.

In 1995, potatoes became the first vegetable grown in

AUGUST 13

Potatoes are the second most consumed food in the U.S. after dairy products. of potatoes are turned into French fries.

National Potato Day

Potatoes are also referred to as “spuds. ”

Potatoes are grown underground.

Potatoes are an annual plant.

Potatoes are a part of the nightshade family.

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?

In-Vitamin!

B vitamins helps the body make energy from food.

The body cannot store most B vitamins, so they need to be regularly consumed.

B vitamins plays a role in serotonin production.

Serotonin makes us feel happy

Cranberries

Cranberries are grown in the wetlands of Shady Valley, Tennessee. Shady Valley is one of Southern Appalachia’s most ecologically important areas.

Cranberries are commercially grown in man-made wetlands or bogs.

Cranberries are one of the few fruits native to North America.

Cranberries are 90% water.

5% of cranberries produced are sold fresh. The rest are turned into juice.

Cranberries are typically in season from October to November

20% of total cranberries consumed in the U.S. each year, are consumed the week of

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.

Tennessee produces around 486 MILLION pounds of milk per year.

Tennessee is home to around 25,000 dairy cows.

Nearly 98% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned & operated. ALL 50

Breeds of Dairy Cows:

1. Ayrshire

2. Brown Swiss 3. Guernsey 4. Holstein 5. Jersey

6. Milking Shorthorn

Holstein cows all have a unique pattern of spots!

1 cow produces around 6 gallons of milk per day.

The U.S. produces ~21 BILLION gallons of milk each year.

Farmers measure milk in The reason milk is white is because it contains “casein” - a type of protein.

Milk is the source of ALL dairy products!

Protein

Protein builds, maintains and replaces the tissues in the body.

Protein helps to transport & store nutrients throughout the body.

18 - 20% of the body is protein.

EVERY cell in the human body contains protein.

The body cannot store protein long term… which is why protein needs to be consumed daily.

Protein plays a big role in building and repairing muscles.

Protein is a MACRONURIENT . A macronutrient is a nutrient that the body needs in LARGE

Protein helps maintain fluid balance throughout the body.

Hancock Family Farm

Hancock Family Farm is a family-owned & operated

Hancock Family Farm is a & operated

Matthew and Jodi Hancock currently run the farm with their 4 kids.

Hancock Family Farm is home to a U-Pick sunflower farm.

Hancock Family Farm is located in Springfield, Tennessee. been around for over 100 years –dating back to 1911.

“Our

Family Feeding Your Family”