Sweetwater Union High School District is joining a new statewide school food program called California Thursdays. District officials described the program as a first step toward big changes in the district’s cafeterias.
For the past three weeks Sweetwater has participated in California Thursdays where an entree made entirely of California-grown food is offered to students each Thursday.
Eric Span, director of food services for the district, said students love the program for a few simple reasons.
“It’s fresher, it’s local, it’s coming from our backyard,” he said.
Food in the cafeteria didn’t used to be this good, said Hilltop High School senior Michael Davis. He used to pat down his lunch with paper towels hoping to remove some of grease.
But these days Davis wants to eat at school.
“It's delicious,” Davis said.
California Thursdays is just the beginning for Sweetwater’s school lunches, Span said.
“We’re really on the precipice of a great change in Sweetwater,” Span said. “Making sure that we leave something behind that's not only good for those kids, but good for my kids, and then my kid’s kids — so they have something they can look for and be proud of.”
