It’s July 2026, and Kern High School District’s summer nutrition program is in full swing. Cars of students and their families line up in a makeshift drive-thru to pick up boxes of fresh produce that will keep the kids fed for the next two weeks. One by one, they pull forward and pop their trunks to receive boxes of healthy fruits and vegetables.
“There were 34 servings per box, including 24 half-cup servings of whole fruit and 10 cups of vegetables,” said Carol Stewart, director of school program development for The FruitGuys Farm-to-School Program, which packed the boxes. “We created a custom mix to fit the district’s requirements. Everything except the canned beans was fresh and locally grown in California.”
Over just two days, the summer school food program made a huge impact.
2 Deliveries, 16,000 Boxes, and 8,000 Students Fed
The FruitGuys delivered 8,000 boxes to Kern High School District that day and 8,000 more two weeks later. Altogether, the program nourished 8,000 students for a full month of the summer, and it was a big hit with Kern’s community.
“Throughout our summer feeding program, we heard nothing but tremendous appreciation from students, parents, and families,” said Jennifer Davis, SNS, CMP, CCNP, and director of nutrition services at Kern High School District. “They especially loved the variety offered in the food boxes.”
Behind the Scenes: From Packing to Delivery
The FruitGuys delivers curated mixes and bulk cases of produce to schools every week, but Kern needed something different. They asked for a custom box to meet specific nutrition requirements. That was a first for The FruitGuys—but we made it happen!
“They had strict requirements for the number of servings for each type of produce, requirements for starchy vegetables, and even rules around specific colors of produce that needed to be in the box, like red, orange, and dark green,” Carol said. “We worked through it together and changed the mix a couple of times to make sure everything was correct.”
We packed the final boxes with fresh ingredients like kale, potatoes, and beans to encourage students to cook at home. They also included ready-to-eat fruits like early-season apples and juicy peaches.
Why Summer Food for Kids Matters
Free, fresh food makes a huge impact on students. Receiving it can inspire them to cook, expose them to new things, and help their busy parents. It can even keep them healthy and fed when money is tight.
According to the latest Feeding America data, about 20% of kids in California are food insecure. All public school students in the state get free breakfast and lunch during the school year through California’s universal meal program, but it doesn’t cover them during the summer. Programs like SUN Bucks, the federal Summer Food Service Program, and Kern’s summer feeding program help fill the gap.
“A lot of these students rely on their school meals, including breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even snacks and supper during the school months. When those meals aren’t available, a summer school food program or summer nutrition program can give them a healthy option and access to fresh, local food that they might not normally have,” Carol said.
The Impact on the District: Happy Students and Families
At Kern High School District’s pickup site in July, smiles were everywhere as workers carried boxes of fresh produce from towering pallets over to cars and trucks. It was a fruitful day for everyone involved.
“This partnership helped us provide nutritious and appealing food to our community, and we are grateful for the positive impact it made,” Jennifer said.
Need Support for Your District’s Summer School Food Program?
The FruitGuys delivers fresh produce, snacks, and both free and for-purchase nutrition education to school districts year-round, including over the summer. We have almost 20 years of experience finding solutions for school summer lunch programs and other summer food programs for kids.
Whether you’re looking for bulk local fruit or a custom box that meets your grant requirements, we’d love to work with you to bring your students the nutrition they need. Just tell us a bit about your district and program requirements (or contact us if you’re already a partner), and we’ll be in touch soon!