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A chorus of crunches replaced the usual classroom sounds at Lynbrook Elementary School as fourth graders marked Virginia Farm-to-School Week with local apples and a firsthand lesson in how food reaches their trays.

Jim Saunders, a farmer with Saunders Brothers, walked students through an apple’s journey from a tree blossom to the school cafeteria. He emphasized that food ultimately comes from family farms whose workers invest considerable time and effort in growing and harvesting fruit.

Students learned about pollination, the apple trees that bloom in April and the risk a late frost poses to a crop.

“The farm has been owned for different generations,” fourth grader Brianna said. “They work really hard to make these apples.”

Brianna said the visit changed how she views the fruit because she now thinks about the farmers who plant, tend and pick it.

Teacher Caitlin Jaggat said the presentation complemented the class’s new ecosystems unit while helping students recognize that Virginia farmers are real people in their communities. Bringing that experience into the classroom was especially valuable for children who may not have an opportunity to visit a farm, she said.

The lesson extended far beyond Lynbrook. Cafeterias throughout Fairfax County participated in the Farm-to-School Week celebration, with 4P Foods helping distribute more than 50,000 apples from local orchards.

The school division also works with 13 Virginia farms to serve students produce throughout the year, including plums, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes and red cabbage. Ten elementary schools participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which is intended to encourage healthy eating while teaching children where their food originates.

As the Lynbrook visit ended, student Gisselle described her apple as very sweet and said its aroma was like “air with a hint of sweetness.” She said future cafeteria apples will remind her of their varieties, their origins and the farmers who grew them.