Noting pioneering work acquiring local fruits and vegetables for school lunches, the Brookline Commission for Women named Sonya Elder Woman of the Year for 2012. Elder is director of food services for the Brookline Public Schools. The award mentions her Make It Meatless program and sourcing local produce for school cafeterias. Elder has also changed the most popular lunch offerings to make them more nutritious, the commission notes. Elder came to the food service department in 2009 after finishing a PhD in nutritional biochemistry at Tufts University. She and her family live in Brookline. She will be presented with the award at the commission’s annual awards ceremony March 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 361 Washington St. - Andreae Downs