"They are our customers, we have to treat them like customers."

Three students from the Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy huddled around a small table. They took eager bites of Southwestern veggie burgers and compared notes.

Camila Santana, 11, liked it, but it was a little too sloppy, she said.

Corinne Sharpe, 12, and DhaMonique Sanders, 11, both shook their heads.

"I hate the middle," Sanders said, "but the lettuce was good."

They all agreed the spicy chicken tenders a few tables away deserved an A+.

The students were among 200 from 15 Hillsborough County schools at TPepin's Hospitality Centre on Wednesday for the fourth annual Fresh Flavors student food-tasting, hosted by the district's Student Nutrition Services Department. Students tasted and rated about 25 new dishes. Some will end up on school menus next year.

Read more at the Tampa Bay Times.