From The Press of Atlantic City — The breakfast and lunch programs at six Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland county schools will get healthier this coming school year, thanks to grants from the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture’s fresh fruit and vegetable program.

The grants are intended to promote good nutrition and increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in the students’ diets.

A total of 25 schools throughout the Garden State received grant money.

Local grant recipientsand the amount of ther grands include Alder Avenue Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, $24,067; Mullica Township School in Mullica Township, $14,615; Ocean-side Charter School in Atlantic City, $8,015; Dawes Avenue School in Somers Point, $8,576.

Also Woodbine Elementary School in Wood-bine, $4,572; and Haleyville-Maurice Town-ship Elementary School in Commercial Township, $10,480.

At Alder Avenue Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, Food Service Director Tom Beck said the grant will allow the school to open up a smoothie cafe and meals, which will include fresh fruit and vegetables, and low-fat vegetable dip.

Beck also plans to distribute handouts and nutrition Web sites to the school’s anticipated 1,100 students to educate them about good nutrition.

“We’re really excited about it, and excited to get back into the classroom and to use our talents to push the fresh fruit and vegetable program,” Beck said.