Now through Feb. 12, Arizona residents can fill out an application online to nominate their favorite K-5 school in the state (located within a 10-mile distance of a Bashas’ or Food City grocery store) for a chance to receive a learning garden at Bashas’ website or captainplanetfoundation.org/contest/bashas.
Two elementary schools will receive a comprehensive Captain Planet Foundation Learning Garden, valued at $3,000. The Learning Garden comes complete with lesson kits, supplies to establish a schoolyard garden, a fully equipped garden cooking cart and strategies for garden maintenance. If the school already has a garden, it is still eligible to be entered for a chance to win a garden expansion package.
“At Dole, we understand the importance of teaching children about the benefits of incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diet, whether they are enjoying fresh produce from a learning garden or a healthy Dole snack,” said Marty Ordman, spokesman for Dole Packaged Foods. “By partnering with Captain Planet Foundation and Bashas’ and Food City grocery stores to grant these learning gardens to Arizona elementary schools, we are helping students to learn about and develop healthy habits.”
The Learning Garden program provides a context for multidisciplinary learning, ranging from nutrition and science to social studies, math and language arts. Students benefit by expanding their palates, taste-testing healthy foods and learning about food origins.
“Anything can be taught in the context of the garden, and hands-on learning supports students’ understanding of food and healthy eating,” said Leesa Carter, executive director of Captain Planet Foundation. “Captain Planet Foundation is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards, and ensuring they are equipped with an understanding of the natural world in which they live. We are thrilled to be working with Dole, Bashas’ and Food City to provide two lucky elementary schools in Arizona with a learning garden.”
The two elementary schools selected to receive learning gardens will be notified at the end of February and announced in March.
“Bashas’ and Food City have always been committed to supporting educational excellence, which is why we are thrilled to partner with Dole and the Captain Planet Foundation in this fifth-annual, statewide contest that will award a learning garden to two elementary schools in Arizona,” said Ashley Shick, director of communications and public affairs for Bashas’ Family of Stores. “The hands-on garden and the curriculum that goes with it have helped students all over the country to have a better understanding about where their food comes from, which is important to our family-owned grocery chain. We’re tremendously honored that Dole continues to work with Bashas’ and Food City to bring this valuable program to Arizona.”
