NORTH BEND — Akin to what they might find in fruit baskets at grandma’s house, students at North Bend, Reedsport and Coquille schools have been getting extra helpings of fruit and vegetables since September.

A grant for a new pilot program approved by the North Bend School District’s board of directors will keep those fruits and veggies coming. The purpose of the program is to expose children to produce they might not get at home, while encouraging healthy eating.

“My sixth-grade kids have done way better since they’ve had that afternoon snack,” said North Bend Middle School teacher Kevin Black at Monday’s board meeting. “They fight to get into the classroom so it doesn’t run out.”

The $111,890 grant will allow the district’s food services program to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program from the USDA and Oregon Department of Education. It will specifically pay for produce, along with staff labor,  at campuses that have 50 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced lunches. The data is based on figures from October 2006, said Food Service Director Rhonda Hoffine.

So far, North Bay Elementary, North Bend Middle School, Reedsport High School and Highland Elementary, along with Lincoln Elementary in Coquille, are participating. Although eligible, Myrtle Crest in Myrtle Point has not joined in the fruit-for-all. The Reedsport, Myrtle Point and Coquille schools all fall under North Bend’s program. Students started eating the extra pineapples, snap peas and other fare in mid-September.

“It’s to get students to eat fruits and vegetables we might not otherwise be able to provide through our regular food services program,” Hoffine said. “It helps boost that energy level for them.”

She added that prior to the grant approval, the extra fruit and vegetables had been funded by the district’s food services’ budget. If the board had not approved the grant, Food Services would have eaten the expense of about $4,800 for the schools.

Each day, the five participating campuses are going through approximately 1,945 servings of fruit and vegetables, Hoffine said.

At North Bend, the middle school is getting about 865 servings of plums, peaches, pears and other types of fruit — that’s double the enrollment, she said, and North Bay kids are getting 220.

Beyond providing more healthy foods to students, the grant is unique, Hoffine said, because there are no strings attached. The only rules dictate that children can’t have the produce before or after school, it can’t supplant school breakfast or lunches, adults can’t eat it and students can’t take it home. The schools do not have to track how much fruit is consumed and who eats it. Hoffine expects the money to run out in March.

She plans to buy from local vendors when produce is available, otherwise she’ll buy fruits and vegetables from SYSCO in Portland, or Day Ship Supply in Coos Bay.

At North Bay, the fruit baskets are put out at various stations at different times, while at the Highland campus, the baskets are put out at 10:45 a.m. by recess doors, pulled back in at 11 a.m., made available again at 12:45 p.m., and removed for the day at 2:30. Reedsport High School provides the produce in its library and in study hall. Hoffine said one school even composts the rinds and cores.

North Bend Middle School Principal Vince Swagerty said the fruit is set out in each classroom, barring breakfast and lunch times.

“It’s healthy food, it’s good for them and they seem to like it. You can’t argue with that,” Swagerty said