An initiative by FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization, allows students to now have dietary diversity and improve their nutrition. FAO opened fruit and vegetable dryers in two rural schools in Armenia’s Ararat region. The two fruit and vegetable drying facilities are equipped with up-to-date industrial fruit and vegetable drying equipment, designed to increase the efficiency of the drying process, reduce wastage, and improve storage conditions.
The projects also include a comprehensive training program for the responsible school staff on operating, managing, and marketing the dried fruit and vegetable production.
It is expected that this year, the schools will produce more than 1 500 kg of natural dried fruits such as apples, plums, apricots, and others. It is predicted that about half of the total production will be used in school meals during the first three years of the operation, and then the rest can be sold at the local market. So, not only will youth get more nutritious meals, but this initiative will also contribute to the local economy.
Read more about this project here: Dried fruits and vegetables improve school meals in rural Armenian or by visiting aremnia.un.org