From Dragon Fruit to Carrot Salad, GMSD’s Farmer’s Market Brings Fun to Lunch

Students at Dogwood and Farmington Elementary Schools got a tasty surprise this week when GMSD’s School Nutrition team brought a colorful Farmer’s Market experience to campus. The event, organized by SFE’s Chef Tony McCray and Director Valencia Redmon, transformed the cafeteria into an exploration of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Wearing flannel shirts, jeans, and cowboy hats, the nutrition team introduced students to unique foods like dragon fruit, star fruit, blood oranges, kiwi, and a carrot salad with craisins, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. Chef Tony searched to ensure that students would be tasting unique and truly fresh versions of these fruits going from Fresh Market to Sprouts and even International Market to gather the fruits and veggies for taste testing and for decoration. 

“The kids really loved the dragon fruit and blood oranges,” said School Nutrition Specialist Debbie Davis. “It was something new and exciting for them, and they were so well-behaved and enthusiastic. I just love getting to be out there with them and seeing how much they enjoy trying new things.”

The Farmer’s Market event blended nutrition education with fun, sparking curiosity and conversation about healthy eating across GMSD’s elementary schools. SFE and School Nutrition are planning future events as well, so students can expect even more taste tests coming soon!