NEW YORK STATE — It’s apple harvest season. To show appreciation for NYS farmers and provide local apples to schools, the FarmOn! Big Apple Crunch project encourages apple enthusiasts across the state to sign up for the Big Apple Crunch Challenge and register for a chance to win a $1,000 award for a participating school’s victory garden.

“For the 12th annual Big Apple Crunch, we are proud to collaborate with the New York Apple Association to scale the exciting Crunch Challenge program across New York State with schools, New York farmers and all New Yorkers," said Tessa Williams, founder of the FarmOn! Foundation. "Millions of small bites make the impact big, helping farmers and kids eat healthy.”

Anyone can participate in the FarmOn! Big Apple Crunch Challenge! To participate as an individual, upload a photo or video of yourself biting into a NYS apple on social media with the hashtag #BigAppleCrunch on Thursday, October 10 at 2 p.m.

For participating schools and nonprofit organizations, upload photos and videos of students biting into NYS apples with the hashtag #BigAppleCrunch at 2 p.m. on October 10.

The winner will receive a $1,000 award to go toward a participating school’s victory garden.

This initiative helps kids eat nutritious, locally grown food from their own Victory Garden year-round, a spokesperson said.