AREA – Only 14% of Iowa youth eat vegetables more than three times a day (excluding French fries and potato chips), and 20% eat fruit more than three times a day. Research has shown that less than 10% of youth meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is piloting a NEW child care provider training, Produce Basics, which has been approved for two hours of credit by Iowa Health and Human Services and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The training helps providers learn best practices related to food safety and garden safety to provide a healthy environment for children in their care.

Health and Human Sciences Educators will be hosting Produce Basics virtually on April 30, from 6-8 p.m. Child care providers will discover the risks related to produce while exploring garden safety guidelines and learn ways to keep fresh fruits and vegetables safe through storage, cleaning, and preparation. One provider responded, “This was a wonderful class and very enjoyable. I truly learned a lot about produce that I didn’t know.”

The program cost is $20 per person. Register online in I-PoWeR and through ISU Registration Services at https://go.iastate.edu/JXHGOL. Registration closes April 21.

Contact Cathy Drost at (641) 676-9123 or cdrost@iastate.edu with any questions.