Summer program teaches Gastonia kids healthy eating from farmers, cooks

GASTONIA, N.C. — Kids in Gastonia are getting their hands dirty with local farmers to learn more about nutrition this summer.

As part of the community’s Farm to Table initiative, kids will learn about and prepare healthy meals with local farmers and culinary experts. The program is being led by Keep Gastonia Beautiful, with funding from Dominion Energy.

The program also connects farmers with local families struggling with food insecurity while teaching the children in those communities the importance of healthy eating. More than 500 kids will meet with farmers at the Gastonia Farmer’s Market for hands-on cooking lessons during 18 different events happening over the summer.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito joined one of the events on Thursday morning. She met Mark Scronce, a third-generation farmer who will be working with teachers and community leaders to explain the importance of farming

“Most of these kids have never been on a farm—they don’t know where a tomato comes from or a green bean,” Scronce told Esposito “They think it comes from the grocery store.”

Tammie Lindsay works with R.A.M.S. Kitchen and runs the tasting part of the camp. The kitchen serves up healthy, affordable meals to the community daily, each one only costs $5.

“It’s really helping the community, you know keeping them healthy and also keeping it affordable,” Lindsay said.

To keep healthy food affordable and accessible, communities need farmers. For Scronce, seeing the kids’ interest grow gives him hope for the next generation of farmers.

“Somebody’s going to have to grow it,” Scronce said, “so I hope to see these kids.”

For more information about the events, click here.

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