Over the course of the school year more than 4,000 students and teachers at South Western High School in Somerset, Kentucky had the opportunity to sample fruits that are not a common offering.

Less than 10 per-cent of the students and teachers had ever tasted a pomegranate, and fewer than 3% knew how to slice one. This theme continued when served fresh coconut, mango, and papaya. Most students could not identify the fruits by appearance or taste. More common fruits such as the raspberries and kiwis were familiar to students and staff but they were never served at the school. 

The agents of the Pulaski County Extension Office visited the school the 4th Friday of each month to offer the students and staff the opportunity to sample a new fruit. Before the actual tasting, each homeroom teacher was provided an educational publication that week, to share with the 1,300 enrolled students on the nutrition value of the item to be served that Friday, a picture of the fruit, how to select, serve, cut or slice, and other facts about the fruit, such as where it came from and how you prepared the sample. 

From the educational publication and the actual tasting of the fruits, most of the students said they would try the fruit again. Our goal was achieved in that we gave students the opportunity to sample new fruits and be exposed to a larger selection of fruits. This had been requested by the students from a survey conducted at the school. Since the students were only given a sample, more than half of the students were ready to try the new fruits each month. We also wanted all students to become acquainted with the Pulaski County Extension Staff, and learn about the services we could provide to them. 

The teachers and students reported this was one of the best outside programs ever offered to their students. The principal was excited because this program became a part of her wellness component for the year.