Southside FFA Joins Nourishing North Carolina to Provide Fresh Produce, Physical Activity for the Community | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

Communities in Chocowinity and across the state gain access to fresh produce

    Chocowinity, N.C.     Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has awarded Southside FFA a grant through Nourishing North Carolina, a statewide community garden effort making local, healthy food more accessible to people across the state. In June 2011, BCBSNC launched the program in partnership with the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) to create or enhance community gardens in all 100 North Carolina counties.

    "This grant will allow us to install a garden on the Southside High School campus so we can provide fresh, local produce for more people in our community and encourage healthy eating habits," said Joshua Singleton, Agriculture Educator at Southside. "We are proud to be part of the Nourishing North Carolina network. Our garden not only provides healthy food, it also provides a safe area for our neighbors to work together, share a public green space and be physically active through gardening."

    North Carolinians continue to face serious health issues, and the state's obesity rates remain at alarming levels. In fact, nearly two-thirds of adults in North Carolina are overweight or obese due to unhealthy eating and physical inactivity, which is above the national average[1]. Community gardens are just one targeted but impactful way to address health issues across North Carolina.

    "Communities across North Carolina are embracing this initiative and rolling up their sleeves to help North Carolinians eat better and live healthier lives. This is important work that reaches far beyond the growing season," said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO.

    The Southside FFA Chapter, a student-led organization, was looking for opportunities to educate youth on the value of gardening as well as helping the community by providing fresh produce to Eagle's Wings, the local food bank. Through Nourishing North Carolina, FFA and Horticulture classes at Southside will grow vegetables in the school garden and give most of the yields to Eagle's Wings. The remainder of the produce will go to the Career and Technical Education Foods labs at Southside. Through this process, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in garden management while seeing first hand how fresh produce, grown well and properly maintained can positively impact their community when donated to local food banks or soup kitchens.

    By 2014, Nourishing North Carolina is expected to ultimately provide North Carolina communities with 190,000 pounds of produce, which will enhance the nutritional value of nearly 150,000 meals. Just in its first year, the program donated more than two tons of produce to food shelter and rescue organizations across the state. In order to succeed, Southside FFA will be partnering with several local agencies including Cooperative Extension, the Health Department, local Master Gardeners, the NC Public Health Foundation, Mid-East Commission, and the Beaufort County Farm Bureau.

    For more information about Southside FFA community garden, visit the school's website at www.shsnnc.shs.beaufort.schoolfusion.us And for a complete list of participating gardens, visit NCRPA's Nourishing North Carolina webpage at www.ncrpa.net/NourishingNC. Also, like Nourishing North Carolina on Facebook.

    About BCBSNC:

    Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.6 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 78 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute in 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.

    About NCRPA:

    Founded in 1944, the North Carolina Recreation & Park Association (NCRPA) is a nonprofit education and advocacy organization, dedicated to the advancement of the park, recreation and leisure professions in our state. NCRPA empowers park and recreation professionals and citizen board members through educational opportunities that enhance their ability to change lives and impact communities on a daily basis for the citizens of North Carolina. For an overview of the programs and services offered by the organization, visit www.ncrpa.net.


  Call/email if you have questions.

    Sarah Hodges
    Public Information Officer
    Beaufort County Schools
      252.946.6593 office
      252.402.5834 cell
      shodges@beaufort.k12.nc.us e-mailoto