ST. PAUL, Mn., June 23, 2011 – ‘Farm to School’ is the name given to efforts linking farmers' products with school district food needs. Almost 10,000 schools in the United States use products grown or made in the area. The movement is growing.
What kind of products?
In Minnesota, easy to use products are carrots, sweet corn, cabbage, potatoes, apples, wild rice, and oatmeal. Tomatoes, peppers, and winter squash are also common according to one study. The fruits and vegetables grown in your area are most likely to show up on the menu. (Source: University of Minnesota Extension)
Why do we need a special effort?
Photo by D Sharon Pruitt
As a former farm kid, I grew up planting, harvesting, cooking, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. We also raised our own meat. Many of our farm raised products were sold at local markets. Eating at school was the first time I saw many processed food products.
Now the reverse is more common. Kids may know little about growing food. Farm raised products are flown across the globe. Processed foods are commonly consumed at home and school. School may be the place where kids see and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables for the first time.
Great Trays is one example of a successful effort to make meals more healthy.
What does Farm to School really do?
This week I facilitated a meeting about Farm to School (F2S) efforts. Doing so, I learned about F2S goals and benefits. The national Farm to School network connects schools (K-12) and local farms with these objectives:
- serving healthy meals in school cafeterias
School lunch. Photo by shannonpatrick17
- improving student nutrition
- providing agriculture, health, and nutrition educational opportunities
- supporting local and regional farmers (Source: Farm to School Network)
Why does it matter?
- Students eat better - One study found that fruit and vegetable consumption increased one serving per student per day at school and home in schools with Farm to School programs.
- Students, staff, and parents get to know farmers and farming – Children better understand the cycle of food such as how and who grows it and how it impacts their bodies, health, and the community.
- Schools dollars stay within the local economy – For every dollar schools spend on local foods, up to three dollars circulate in their local economy.
While these results are impressive, one statement stood out to me:
“Students who eat better will learn better.”
What is your local school doing?
Curious, I checked out the school district where my daughter attends. Heartened, I found they are working with local farmers and getting products like squash, spinach, corn and apples.
Check it out for yourself. Find a Farm to School effort by following this link and clicking onto your state map.
For information on local foods, including growing markets, follow this link.
Photo Credits: D Sharon Pruitt (girl eating apple) and shannonpatrick17 (school tray) @ flickr
Please Comment: What is happening in your school district?
Read more from Donna Rae Scheffert at Washington Times Communities and Online-Leadership-Tools. She can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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