Project Blueberry plaque unveiled at Mannsdale Upper Elementary
Mannsdale Upper Elementary commemorated the school’s history-making Project Blueberry with a permanent plaque installed among freshly planted blueberry bushes last week.
Students, teachers, and parents gathered on the school’s campus last Friday to unveil the plaque honoring the students and teachers who dreamed big and led to the creation of a new legislation establishing the blueberry as Mississippi’s state fruit.
Earlier this year fourth-grade students and their teacher Lisa Parenteau were inspired to begin the process of establishing a state fruit for Mississippi.
After reading an article in Scholastic Magazine about students in Kansas working to support the adoption of a state fruit, the Mannsdale students began researching fruits grown in Mississippi and reached out to their local representative, Jill Ford.
“After reading that article, my class asked me if Mississippi had a state fruit,” Parenteau told the Journal earlier this year. “I Googled it and saw we in fact didn’t have one. They then went out at recess and polled students to see what their favorite fruit was and had choices such as watermelon, grapes, strawberries, and more. I told them to do some research, and we discovered the blueberry was responsible for nearly $2 million in state tax revenue and is widely grown in the state.”
Students selected the blueberry because it is nutritious and an important crop in Mississippi, according to Gene Wright, Madison County Schools director of communications.
In collaboration with the students, Rep. Ford in January introduced Project Blueberry as House Bill 1027, proposing the blueberry as Mississippi’s official state fruit.
“Ultimately, I believe these young leaders learned no matter how small their ideas may seem, they can make big differences,” Ford told the Journal in March. “I am so proud of them and their accomplishment of seeing their blueberry bill signed into law.”
Parentaeu’s students reached out to senators and representatives from across the state, lobbying for their cause.
They took a field trip to the state Capitol where they met with the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor and were recognized in the House chamber for their civic engagement.
Project Blueberry was signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday, March 13, officially making the blueberry Mississippi’s state fruit.