Roaring Fork Schools will be celebrating Colorado Proud School Meal Day on Tuesday. The event will feature Colorado agriculture by offering students healthy meals with locally grown ingredients, according to a news release from the Roaring Fork School District. 

The focus is to teach children about the importance of choice in meals; specifically, the choice of healthy foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat dairy products that contribute to proper nutrition and well-being. The schools’ commitment to healthy school meals reflects commitment to their students’ success, the release said. 

“Our staff is very excited to serve students this unique menu,” Octavio Maese, director of food & nutrition services at Roaring Fork Schools, said in the news release. “Thanks to the Local Food Program Grant and our local partners we can offer superb ingredients to celebrate Colorado Proud Day!”

Local Runners and Mountain Freshies, local partners, are collaborating with Roaring Fork Schools to create and offer a delicious, healthy menu to students on Tuesday. The menu items include beef picadillo tacos, roasted squash tacos, fresh pico de gallo and fresh plums, the release stated. 

“It is good to know that our Colorado farms can feed our upcoming generations and we hope this celebration inspires a growing interest in Colorado agriculture,” Matthew Kottenstette of Farm Runners said. Nancy Scheinkman of Mountain Freshies added, “Kids who learn about where and how their food is produced are more likely to try new things,” the news release stated. 

In Colorado, agribusinesses contribute more than $47 billion to the state economy and provide more than 195,000 jobs. Additionally, over 38,000 ranches and farms occupy 31 million acres. With all this land and work, ranchers and farmers contribute food containing nutrients that people need. To celebrate the local farmers and ranchers, Roaring Fork Schools are proud to continue incorporating their nutritious food into students’ meals, the news release said.