It’s Great Apple Crunch time

Purdue Extension is joining schools, early care centers, colleges, hospitals and other organizations across the Great Lakes Region states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio in the seventh annual Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch.

Participants in Putnam County can celebrate National Farm to School Month and local farmers by crunching into apples during three different virtual events.

Any K-12 classroom, youth organization, early childhood center, families and others are welcome to join us for Putnam County’s Virtual Great Apple Crunch. During the virtual program, you will watch an interview from an orchard grower, learn about types of apples, how to wash apples, ways to use apples, and participate in the “Big Crunch” … eating an apple.

Participants will also receive a free activity packet based on age/grade level. To participate, you register your class/group/family at https://tinyurl.com/PUTNAMAPPLECRUNCH for one of three sessions:

-- Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m.

-- Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

-- Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.

In order to participate in the “Big Crunch” persons will need to have an apple available for each participant at your location. The session will last only 30 minutes. Participants will be taking part in the session via Zoom.

This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports farm to school and local food initiatives throughout the Great Lakes Region.

For more information, persons may contact Jenna Nees at smith535@purdue.edu or 653-8411.