Throughout the school year, students in Warren, Halifax, and Hertford counties receive a special monthly delivery, called a Harvest Box. The Harvest Box is part of the What’s Growing On curriculum, a farm-to-school education program created by Working Landscapes, a nonprofit organization located in Warren County.

February’s “harvest” was none other than NC’s prized vegetable: the sweet potato; and it was fitting that the Harvest Box was delivered to the 5th-grade classroom on February 22nd, National Sweet Potato Day! The class began with a discussion of the many ways we eat sweet potatoes -- from baked to fried.  They learned how sweet potatoes are grown; the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables; and examined the steps it takes to get sweet potatoes from the farm to their plate.

The lesson culminated with an in-class taste test of a sweet potato pie! They had also sampled many locally grown greens like collards and cabbage over the course of several Harvest Box months! After each taste test, kids rate the produce on a three-point scale of – “loved it”, “liked it” and “tried it”. All kids who at least tried the produce were given a “tried it” sticker and many asked their teacher for the recipe!