New London — The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Waterford Country School have awarded a $5,000 grant to the New London Education Foundation and Brigaid to increase access to fresh produce in the New London school district’s cafeterias.

The funding will allow the NLEF and Brigaid, the New London schools' lunch program, to work with a FoodCorps service member, New London food service director and local farmers to get more fresh food on the school’s lunch menu and encourage students to try samples during taste tests.

“We are thrilled to help the New London public schools serve up fresh, healthy snacks and meals to all students, encouraging them to try new vegetables and fruit that they may not have had access to before,” said William Martin, executive director of the Waterford Country School in Quaker Hill, a nonprofit human services agency dedicated to the special needs of children and their families.

The money also will allow Brigaid to teach existing staff new skills in handling and cooking with fresh food.