Harrison County Schools is excited to continue its "WV Wednesdays" initiative, which began in March, with plans to feature local West Virginia products throughout most months of the school year. The first "WV Wednesday" of this academic year will be held on September 18th, showcasing West Virginia beef in the hotdog chili and fresh West Virginia pears. Following that, on October 30th, students can look forward to WV pulled pork and WV peaches on the menu. As the colder months approach, WV beef will also be featured in school-made chili and sloppy joes.
In addition to WV Wednesdays, the district has launched "Taste It Tuesdays", where food vendors are invited to schools to offer samples of potential menu items. Accompanied by the Child Nutrition Director and Assistant, students are given the opportunity to taste these items, and if they receive positive feedback, the items may be added to future menus. This initiative allows the district to explore new offerings at no cost before committing to larger-scale purchases.
The first Taste It Tuesday will feature Frito Lay / PepsiCo at Lincoln High / Middle on September 17th. Zee Zees will visit Liberty High School on October 10th, and International Foods will be at Bridgeport Middle School on October 17th. Other vendors, such as General Mills and Barry Foods, are also in the process of scheduling tastings at various locations throughout the district.
These initiatives aim to promote local products and enhance the school menu offerings by incorporating student feedback and supporting West Virginia agriculture.