As families head into a new school year, it’s the perfect time to put fresh produce at the top of the shopping list. Nutritious snacks and lunchbox favorites help kids stay focused, energized and on track to build lifelong healthy habits. These top produce items come from farms certified by Equitable Food Initiative, products that aren’t just delicious but also grown with a commitment to safe food, fair labor and environmental responsibility. Choosing them means supporting healthier kids and a healthier food system.
Small foods always seem to garner favor from those with little hands. EFI certified fruits like strawberries from GoodFarms, mandarin oranges from Creekside Organics and frozen blueberries from Scenic Fruit fit the bill and add sweetness, color and important nutrients, plus they’re quick to rinse and pack in the morning rush. Beyond these small-but-mighty fruits, here are more produce favorites to keep snack time exciting:
Stemilt, Rave® Apples
Rave® Apples lead the charge as the first apple of the harvest, arriving in early August with a Honeycrisp crunch, juicy bite and fuchsia-pink glow.
Perfect for lunchbox kabobs, nut-butter slices or a quick after-school treat. Rave’s short season makes them a must-have through September.
Homegrown Organic Farms, Little Pranksters Kiwi Berries
Kiwi berries are a bite-sized twist on traditional kiwi, bursting with flavor once ripe. These skinless, poppable fruits are fun to eat and perfect for packing into snack cups and bento boxes.
Windset Farms, Yum Yums™ Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes deliver a burst of natural sweetness with each bite. Greenhouse-grown for consistent quality, they’re excellent for snacking or pairing with cheese cubes or their favorite salad dressing.
Mucci Farms, Mini Cucumbers
Crisp and refreshing, these mini cucumbers are perfect for snacking or quick pickling. Slice them with baby bell peppers and grape tomatoes for a colorful, kid-friendly veggie platter.
This school year, fresh produce can be as essential as pencils
and paper. With so many flavorful, nutritious and easy-to-pack options from EFI certified farms, parents can fill lunchboxes with foods that fuel both learning and play, making back-to-school a fresh start.
Written and designed by Madelyn Edlin and Alexandra Martinez.