Groton ― A new grant will help Groton students eat fruit and vegetables all year round.

The district has received a $38,364 state education grant to help purchase equipment to freeze and store fresh fruits and vegetables, Superintendent of Schools Susan Austin said.

The food services department operates a kitchen at the former Mary Morrisson School, which is centrally located and easily accessible to bring food to other district schools, she said. The grant will fund a freezer, cryovac machine and food cutter for the kitchen so Food Services Director Ernie Koschmieder can process and store fresh fruit and vegetables for kids to eat though the winter and all year long, she said.

“I think it really correlates with our health program and their understanding of nutrition and trying new things,” Austin said.

k.drelich@theday.com