Colorado school policies on fruit and veggie consumption are average

One-third of Colorado middle and high schools offer fruits or non-fried vegetables at school celebrations, a number that mirrors the national average, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vermont was the only state where more than half of schools have such practices, though several other states, including Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Mexico and Arizona fall into the 44-49 percent range, according to the “State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables 2013.”

Aside from school celebrations, the school policy issues examined in the report include whether state child care regulations are aligned with national standards for serving fruits and vegetables and whether there is a state farm-to-school policy. In Colorado’s case, the answers are no and yes, respectively.

The report, which first came out in 2009, measures fruit and vegetable consumption as well as policies and environmental supports that encourage fruit and vegetable consumption.