Connecting Agriculture with Schools Lessons from Farm to School

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Connecting Agriculture with SchoolsLessons from
Farm to School

• Moira BeeryFarm to School Program
  ManagerCenter for Food Justice, Occidental
  College

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What is Farm to School?
-Fresh, local foods served in schools
-In-class Nutrition Education
-Agricultural Literacy
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Farm to School Statistics

• 90 Districts in California
• 35 states
• 900 programs in the US

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Farm to School

• Improve quality of school meals
• Students are more likely to eat fresh, local
  foods
• Support local agriculture
• Green the lunch program

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Educational Opportunities

• Educational Activities
• Farmer in classroom
• Farmers market tours
• Farm tours
• Gardening
• Farm-Raisers

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Riverside Unified School District

• Farm to School salad bars in 14 schools
• Harvest of the Month
• Farmer presentations
• Farm tours
• Farmers market tours

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Riverside - Nutrition Services as Leader

• Farmers are integrated into the schools
• Farm to School program changed perceptions of
  meal program. ? District saw a more than 25
  increase in the number of meals served from
  2005-2006.
• Nutrition Services supports nutrition education
  and gardens

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Santa Monica Malibu UnifiedSchool District

• 10 year old Farm to School program
• Purchase directly from local farmers market
• Purchases directly from farmers, use market for
  pick up
• Each week, the farmers market hosts school
  groups.

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Connecting with Agriculture

• Dream bigstart small
• Learn about seasonality in your area
• Meet farmers at your local farmers market
• Talk to your schools produce buyer/distributor
• Work with your food service provider

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Resources in Your Area

• Community Alliance with Family Farmers
• Farm Bureau
• Cooperative Extension
• University agriculture programs

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For More Information
www.CaFarmToSchool.org
www.FarmToSchool.org
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For More Information

• California Farm to School Program
• Center for Food Justice
• UEPI, Occidental College
• Los Angeles, CA
• (323)- 341 5099
• beery_at_oxy.edu
• www.farmtoschool.org