On October 1, Morristown students and staff took a pledge to eat healthy, and eat local! MCS once again participated in New York State’s Big Apple Crunch, an initiative that aims to celebrate local growers in New York’s apple belt.
New York State produces about 30 million bushels of apples every year. That’s such a large number that if New York were a country, its yearly harvest would rank just outside of the top 20 globally!
The Big Apple Crunch was first thought up by FarmOn!, a foundation working to fill the succession gap on family farms in rural America. FarmOn! works to create and fund educational programs that provide the next generation of farmers with the skills and experience they need to successfully continue to feed their communities.
Each year in the month of October, participating school districts and college campuses across New York State are encouraged to take a bite out of a locally-grown apple. Last year, more than 2.3 million New Yorkers enjoyed the literal fruits of local farmers’ labor. MCS is proud to have participated in this event since 2023.
“The Big Apple Crunch is more than just a fun event, it’s a meaningful way for students to connect with the land, the people, and the values that nourish our communities,” said MCS Superintendent Staci Vaughn. “For a small, rural school like ours, it reinforces the importance of supporting local agriculture and making healthy choices: lessons that stick with our students well beyond the classroom and help build a stronger, more self-sustaining future.”
This year, the crisp and refreshing batch of apples enjoyed by MCS students came from Applewood Orchards in Rensselaer Falls, NY. Our students enjoyed Macintosh, Cortland, Zestar and Sensa apples this year. Thank you to our local farmers for helping our students grow and succeed!