Elizabeth School No. 28 Earns State Recognition for Promoting Healthy Eating

Elizabeth School No. 28 Earns State Award for Healthy Eating

Lunch trays at Juan Pablo Duarte–José Julián Martí School No. 28 in Elizabeth have been carrying a little more than the usual fare lately, and the state has taken notice.

The school recently earned second place in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Very Impressive Produce Awards, a statewide honor recognizing schools that go above and beyond with the federally funded FFVP. Representatives from the NJDA visited School No. 28 to present the award, part of Union County Life's ongoing coverage of local schools earning recognition for their work with students.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program gives students in participating schools regular access to free fresh produce during the school day, often as a way to introduce kids to fruits and vegetables they might not otherwise try. Michelle Murdock, the NJDA's FFVP director, credited School No. 28's staff for building healthy habits into the school day through practical, everyday learning rather than just handing out snacks.

A Priority for the Whole District

Elizabeth Board of Education President Maria Z. Carvalho tied the award to a broader concern for the district, saying that in underserved areas like Elizabeth, tackling food insecurity and childhood obesity is a top priority. She framed the recognition as validation of the district's effort to make sure students have consistent access to nutritious food, something she connected directly to both academic performance and health over time.

What the Award Recognizes

The VIP Awards don't just measure whether a school hands out apples and carrots. They look at how well a school builds the program into daily routines and how much students actually engage with it. Coming in second statewide puts School No. 28 among a small group of New Jersey schools singled out for that kind of sustained effort.

For families at School No. 28, the recognition is a nod to something that's probably already been showing up on cafeteria trays all year: more fresh fruit, more fresh vegetables, and a school community that made a point of paying attention to it.

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FAQ

What award did Elizabeth School No. 28 win?
The school earned second place in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Very Impressive Produce (VIP) Awards.

What is the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program?
It's a federally funded program that gives students at participating schools regular access to free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day.

Who presented the award to School No. 28?
Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture visited the school to present it.

Why does this award matter for Elizabeth students?
District leaders connected it to broader efforts to address food insecurity and childhood obesity in Elizabeth, tying healthy eating access to student health and academic performance.