Program Will Bring Locally Grown Apples to School Districts Throughout State
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., September 29, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In celebration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Farm to School Month, Gold Star Foods’ Growing Forward team and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are launching the “Apple Crunch Off” (Crunch Off). The Crunch Off is a fun and educational statewide initiative running from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31. The Missouri Farm to School Program promotes healthy eating habits among Missouri students while supporting local farms.
“We are thrilled to bring the Crunch Off to schools across Missouri in celebration of Farm to School Month,” said Barbara Shaw, Coordinator, Food and Nutrition Services, Missouri DESE. “This is the largest Farm to School Month initiative we have undertaken in the state, and it reflects our strong commitment to classrooms, cafeterias and communities.”
The Crunch Off encourages students to take a collective “crunch” into fresh, Missouri-grown produce during October. As part of the program, 300 school districts across the state will each receive five free cases of apples from Gold Star Foods. Participating schools will also receive digital toolkits with classroom activity guides, promotional materials and interactive content about farming, food sourcing and the nutritional benefits of apples. Apples are sourced locally from Peters Orchards and Schweizer Orchards, where state officials, school district employees and Gold Star Foods representatives are receiving firsthand knowledge from growers.
“The Apple Crunch Off is a fun way to highlight the importance of fresh, healthy foods in schools,” said Jacqueline McDaniel, Program Manager, Growing Forward. “We’re proud that our partnership takes things beyond the bite; not only do students get nutritious food, but also activity kits to ensure sustained engagement throughout the month.”
The Growing Forward Program aims to empower schools to serve nutritious, sustainably sourced meals made with food from locally owned farms. Missouri’s Apple Crunch Off is supported by the USDA’s Local Foods for Schools Grant, which covers the cost of apples, and by Formula Grants, which fund educational materials. The Growing Forward Program is expanding the impact of these resources by increasing access to fresh, local foods in schools across the state.
“Our School Food System is built to efficiently connect farmers and producers directly to a child’s plate,” said Sean Leer, CEO of GS Foods Group. “We are deeply grateful for the vision and support of the USDA and the State of Missouri in making this connection possible. School Meal Programs and USDA Foods play a vital role in sustaining domestic agriculture.”
