Andalusia Elementary School students have been satisfying their holiday sweet tooth, not with candy or chocolate, but with apples and mangoes.

Monday, students enjoyed “Apples Galore” day, where they were offered the chance to try different varieties of apples. They picked among the apple varieties of Honey crisp, Rome, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith. They also learned that apples are high in fiber, and good sources of potassium, calcium and vitamins A and C.

Last week, students from the second through fourth grades got the chance to taste test several unusual fruits, including star fruit, mangoes, papayas and pomegranates.

A $54,159 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture grant is funding the program. The money has been used to provide an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables to AES students at least twice every week, and the program is expected to continue through the remainder of the school year.