MORRISTOWN — On Oct. 1, Morristown Central School students and staff took a pledge to eat healthy and eat local food as they once again participated in New York State’s Big Apple Crunch, an initiative celebrating growers in the state’s apple belt.

New York produces about 30 million bushels of apples each year — enough that if the state were a country, its harvest would rank just outside the top 20 globally.

The Big Apple Crunch was created by FarmOn!, a foundation working to fill the succession gap on family farms in rural America. The organization develops and funds educational programs that give the next generation of farmers the skills and experience needed to continue feeding their communities.

Each October, participating school districts and college campuses across New York are encouraged to take a bite out of a locally grown apple. Last year, more than 2.3 million New Yorkers joined in the event. Morristown Central has taken part since 2023.

“The Big Apple Crunch is more than just a fun event, it’s a meaningful way for students to connect with the land, the people, and the values that nourish our communities,” said MCS Superintendent Staci Vaughn. “For a small, rural school like ours, it reinforces the importance of supporting local agriculture and making healthy choices — lessons that stick with our students well beyond the classroom and help build a stronger, more self-sustaining future.”

This year’s crisp and refreshing apples came from Applewood Orchards in Rensselaer Falls. Students enjoyed McIntosh, Cortland, Zestar and Sensa varieties.