Local Foods Crop Up
In Schools In October
By Justin Carter
project associate
Center for Rural Affairs
Throughout our nation, 42 percent of schools have contributed $789 million dollars to local foods through farm to school programs.
This October marks the eighth annual National Farm to School Month, a time to recognize the importance of improving child nutrition, support local economies, and educate communities about the origins of their food.
In the U.S., 23.6 million students have become engaged in programs such as school gardening, locally-sourced lunches, and sustainable agriculture education. These hands-on activities have turned pulling weeds and snapping beans into math and science lessons.
For example, through Nebraska’s Greenhouse to Cafeteria program, schools offer programs that teach students valuable technical skills while producing food for their own lunches. One student commented, “We brag at lunch that we took care of their food. It’s great seeing something you did.”
According to the 2015 U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School Census, programs have offered 17,089 salad bars with healthy options; and grown 7,101 school gardens. Approximately 1,039 school districts serve local foods during the peak season in the summer months and 1,516 school districts start farm to school early in their pre-K programs.
The numbers don’t lie. Farm to school is a win for students, farm, food businesses, and communities. For more information, visit cfra.org/f2smonth.
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Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
