Schools across the state plowed through the first week of October with an impressive array of events celebrating New York Harvest for New York Kids Week, and those in the Saratoga Springs City School District were no exception.

From Oct. 1-5, cafeterias in all eight of the district’s schools featured six-foot tables with displays of fresh produce. In addition, kindergarteners toured the Farmers’ Market, and there were recipe contests using local produce and a nutrition game show at the middle and high schools.

Part of the state’s ongoing Farm-to-School efforts, NYHNYK Week was initiated seven years ago by the New York State Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy. The weeklong observance aims to expand the offering of fresh New York state products on school menus, encourage nutritious food choices among children and teach the importance of local agriculture.

On Monday, students at Lake Avenue Elementary School guessed the weight of giant pumpkin donated by Sheldon Farms of Salem. NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Deputy Commissioner Jerry Cosgrove stopped by the following day and announced the winners.

Ten students from K-5 guessed within a pound or two of the correct weight, which was 59.7 pounds. The lucky winners received prize bags stuffed with a pad of paper, a pen, stickers and six apples.

Cosgrove said he was thrilled by the programs the district put on for NYHNYK Week. He believes it’s important for the students to learn where the food they eat comes from and develop good eating habits early on.

“We need to improve the nutritional level at our schools,” Cosgrove said. “I feel it’s important that local schools serve local food. It’s fresher, more nutritious and good for the local economy.”

Instead of shipping in food from across the country or around the globe, Cosgrove said schools should buy products grown in New York. He added that this practice hasn’t previously been in place because it’s more difficult and expensive to do.

“We’re going to have to invest more money into how we feed ourselves. We’re really focusing on what’s good food versus just what’s the cheapest option,” he said.

Saratoga Springs School Lunch Director Margaret Lamb said the NYHNYK Week programs are a good way to expose the students to more fruits and vegetables, and to give them an appreciation for food grown in New York. She said the district plans to purchase more products locally because they’re fresher, more sustainable, of better quality and support local farms.

Representatives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension cored apples at a table in the school’s cafeteria as part of the group’s Eat Smart NY program. One of them, Siobhan Ahearn, offered students samples of the fruit and let them rate the three types once they’d finished their lunch.

Ahearn said the CCE was going to have apple tastings at every one of the district’s elementary schools to promote healthy eating. She said all three of the choices had a different color, taste and crispness.

“It’s fun,” Ahearn said of the apple tasting. “This is an opportunity for the kids to realize what’s out there and hopefully to make healthier choices.”