With October designated National Farm-to-School Month, it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on how your foodservice program incorporates farm-to-school foods and learning to engage with students.
Many government agencies and nonprofit organizations provide special toolkits, classroom activities and curricula that you may want to use in your buildings in October. Some ideas we’ve come across:
- Field trips to local fisheries, dairy or crop farms, or grain elevators
- Special guest presentations by farmers, ranchers, processors
- Growing produce in the classroom by planting seeds and watching them grow throughout the month (or year)
- Doing a classroom exercise on various grains and their origins, planting and harvesting practices, uses in meals, etc.
More ideas are available at:
National Farm to School Month fact sheet
National Farm to School Network website
National Farm to School Network resource library
USDA Farm to School Planning Kit
USDA Webinar: Planning for Farm to School Success; Tying It All Together and Digging In
Most states encourage farm-to-school by providing suggested activities for students, school resources, and guidance on procuring locally produced foods. Check with your state agency governing school nutrition programs to see what may be available to support your efforts.
Farm-to-School Month may just be one month a year but teaching students about healthy eating, the benefits of fresh foods grown nearby, and supporting the local economy are more than an observation on the calendar. Farm-to-school is a year-round effort.
