Local farmers and the USDA bring fresh local food to schools to enrich the connection communities have with local food producers with the Farm to School grant program. This program was a part of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, like the National School Lunch Program, that aims to increase nutritional value of school lunches and ensure all students have access to healthy, balanced meals.
By Maggie Paulk
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National Farm to School Month
FNS National Farm to School Month takes place each October and is supported by USDA. The goal is to support farmers while also providing nutritious, balanced plates to schoolchildren. This month also celebrates food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.
This year’s theme is “who’s at the table?” which intends to highlight all who contribute to our food system. National Farm to School Network envisions a food system where no one is left out and in which school lunches are nutritious, culturally relevant, cooked from scratch, and sourced from local farmers. This will work to improve access to healthy foods as well as support the local economy.
National Farm to School Network recommends getting involved by…
- Being Inspired: Follow the National Farm to School Network on social media to see inspiring examples of farm to school success and innovation.
- Getting Involved: Explore our national calendar of Farm to School Month events to see how you can celebrate in your state.
- Spreading the Word: Shout out about farm to school and share what you’re doing for National Farm to School Month with the hashtags #F2SMonth and #farmtoschool on social media.
- Exploring Resources: Check out our free resources for planning and promoting celebrations in your community, including our Farm to School Month Celebration Toolkit, customizable posters and bookmarks, stickers and more.
National Farm to School Month is a great way to support farmers and local school systems. By continuing to support local farmers and by bringing their food into school lunches, we can make a food system where everyone has access to nutritious foods.
