Earth Fare teams with Asheville Independent Restaurant Association for contest open to local school children; winners get 6 field trips to local restaurants to learn about health eating

I’m really impressed by this contest, which is sponsored by Earth Fare and the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. I attended the kick-off event Friday evening, and chatted up restaurant owners and teachers, who are all excited about this contest. 

Asheville gets it, in terms of promoting locally grown food. I hope there’s great participation from local schools. It’s open to all schools in Buncombe County – charter schools, city schools, county schools, etc. The winners will get one heck of a prize: six, yes SIX, field trips to local restaurants, to learn how to cook and eat healthy food. Wow.

Press release here: 

Earth Fare, the healthy supermarket is partnering with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) to offer the first annual Food Field Trip. This kid’s healthy contest was created to help kids learn and take pride in where their food comes from.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 27, individuals or classes across Buncombe County are invited to enter one of the three Food Field Trip Contests.

Contests will include:

* Grade K-3: Healthy Plate Art Contest: Kids are encouraged to show us what makes a healthy meal. One individual or class will be selected based on their creativity and representation of a balanced healthy meal.

* Grades 4-8: Express Yourself, Get Active Project: Students are encouraged to creatively tell us how they stay active or how they inspire their friends and family to get active. Projects can be submitted in the form of an essay, art project or song.

* Grades 9-12: Get Healthy, Be Active Project: High school students are challenged to think outside the box to tell us how they stay healthy. Projects will range from videos, artwork, essays, or a personalized exercise routine.

All submission must be entered to Earth Fare at 145 Cane Creek Industrial Park Drive, Fletcher, NC 28732, by Sept. 20. Winners will be announced Oct. 1. Winner will receive 6 food field trips to the participating AIR restaurants, which include Tupelo Honey Cafe, The Green Sage, Corner Kitchen, Laughing Seed Café, Bouchon and the Blue Ridge Dining Room at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. Trip will include hands-on healthy cooking instruction and an opportunity to learn about a variety of cuisines and diets. Transportation will be provided by Earth Fare.

But everyone is a winner for the Food Field Trip! All participating individuals will receive a goodie bag, as well as a catered lunch provided by Earth Fare for all classes.

For more information about the Food Field Trip Healthy Kids Challenge, the Kick-Off Party or Earth Fare’s mission to eliminate childhood obesity, contact Jennifer Brewer at jennifer.brewer@earthfare.com or call 828-253-7656 x. 126.