Celebrate Farm to School Month in October

The National School Lunch program started over 70 years ago and today schools serve lunches to 30 million students each day, which amounts to nearly 5 billion lunches every year. In the early 1990s, schools launched the Farm to School movement, using local foods in school meals, planting edible school gardens, and teaching students where their food comes from. October marks Farm to School month, a time to celebrate the connection between children and local food.

Why Farm to School?

When schools participate in the Farm to School program, everyone benefits – kids, farmers, and local communities. KIDS: Farm to School provides children access to nutritious, local food and educational activities related to food, health, agriculture, and nutrition. FARMERS: Farm to School is a significant financial opportunity for farmers and food processors to tap into the school nutrition market. COMMUNITIES: Farm to School provides opportunities to build family and community engagement. Buying from local producers and processors creates jobs and strengthens the local economy.

What is Local?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports and encourages the purchase of local foods. The definition of “local” varies from district to district. Many programs define local as within a certain number of miles from the school, or within the county, state, or even neighboring states. Some operators use different definitions of local depending on the product or season. Local foods can span the school meal tray and include everything from fruit and vegetables, wheat in pizza crust, beans in chili, rice in stir-fry, turkey in sandwiches, and cheese in quesadillas. Local buying can happen with all types of producers including farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, as well as other food businesses, like food processors, manufacturers, and distributors.

The Original Local Food
One local food that has been a part of the lunch tray for years is milk. In fact, it takes just two days for milk to get from the cow to the carton. Some students are surprised to learn that the milk on their tray almost always comes from a local farm.  When they find out, they immediately want to visit the farm to meet the cows and the farmer!  Dairy farmers are committed to providing wholesome safe products for schools to offer as a part of a fresh and balanced breakfast, lunch, or snack.