Farm to School Programs Make a Healthy Difference

Friday, September 18, 2009

Thanks to Farm to School programs across the nation, kids are learning what foodies have known all along; fresh fruits are sweeter and more flavorful than produce shipped from many miles away. Fresher also means more nutritious. Buying fresh supports local farmers and their families, and helps preserve the community’s farmland for future generations.

The Farm to School programs connect schools with local farms to ensure that healthy meals are served in school cafeterias. The goal is to provide health and nutrition education that will last a lifetime, while building lasting support for local small farmers.

The National Farm to School Program is a collaboration of the Center for Food & Justice and the Community Food Security Coalition. Since its founding in 2000, it has been successfully assisting organizations in starting up and sustaining farm to school efforts, fundraising, and providing informational resources, education and training for farm to school stakeholders.