Gyeonggi Province to Provide "Health Fruit" to All Childcare Centers Starting June 12

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Hong Seong-gil] Starting June 12, Gyeonggi Province will provide "Gyeonggi Children's Health Fruit," which is currently offered only to children at community child centers and group homes, to all childcare centers throughout the province.

The support targets include 287,000 children at childcare centers, 23,000 at community child centers, and 1,000 at group homes, totaling 311,000 children.

The province will first provide carefully selected seasonal fruits produced in Gyeonggi Province, and for fruits not produced in the province, fruits from other domestic regions will be provided to ensure children have access to a diverse range of fruits.

Fruit will be delivered to childcare centers in the province on June 12 or 13, and children will receive 120 grams of health fruit per serving as a snack twice a week through November.

To this end, the province has secured a budget of 20.98 billion won, including 10.49 billion won in provincial funds and 10.49 billion won in city and county funds, through consultations with 31 cities and counties.

Fruit delivery will proceed upon application from childcare centers, and newly established childcare centers can apply to the health fruit representative or childcare representative of their respective city or county.

Information about health fruit supply can be found on the supplier's website, Gyeonggi Lip Matchum Agricultural Cooperative (http://lipmachum.nonghyup.com), and professional counselors (1833-3848) have been assigned to promptly resolve inquiries and inconveniences regarding quality and other matters.

A provincial official stated, "The 'Gyeonggi Children's Health Fruit Supply Project' was implemented to improve unbalanced nutritional intake and eating habits of children who are becoming accustomed to fast food, instant food, and stimulating processed food."