Move over chicken nuggets and tater tots. Some students got a taste of a national initiative Thursday.

"About 40 percent of today's lunch will be local," said Tony Brochu, food service coordinator for the Muhlenberg School District in Berks County. 

Brochu started stacking school lunches with locally grown products about a year and a half ago.

Muhlenberg's one of about two dozen districts statewide to have an established farm to school program.  It's part of a national trend touted by the USDA and first lady Michelle Obama.

Subarashii Kudamono Orchards near Kempton is one of the local providers of produce. 

Holly Harter of Subarashii Kudamono was one of the local farm representatives on hand to speak to Thursday.

According to Harter, the farm fresh trend has boosted business over the past couple years.

"People are very interested in where food is coming from," said Harter. 

Even with that national push toward farm fresh, cafeteria workers said it can be an art to get those fresh veggies and fruits onto students' trays.

Brochu said the best way to change the menu is to phase in new tastes.

"We have what we call a rebellion.  We had it a few years back when we had to change over to wheat products in our food," Brochu explained.  "I refuse to do that instantly."

By trying to stay ahead of the farm trend, Brochu hopes to gradually transition the picky pallets of students.

There are other hurdles too, including the timing of the local growing season.

"It's plentiful in the beginning of the school year," Brochu said.  "And then it ends about November, beginning of December and then it picks back up again with the fresh greens and stuff like that towards the end of the school year."

Just like the other lessons learned in school, students are catching on to the farm to table trend and understanding why buying local is important for local businesses.

"So they get more money to help the economy out," said one student.