Fruit and vegetable program expanding

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota is expanding a program that provides fresh fruits and vegetables to students on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program currently serves about 4,000 students in 10 schools at Pine Ridge.

The state will add 25 sites for the 2008-09 school year from Sioux Falls to Rapid City, bringing the number of students served to nearly 10,000.

The program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the South Dakota Department of Education's Child and Adult Nutrition Services, aims to increase student consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, introduce students to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and encourage students to make healthier choices in their diets.