What is Farm to School?
Farm to School is a program that improves the connection students and communities have with locally sourced food. This is accomplished by doing one or all of the following: purchase locally sourced food, implement school gardens, and provide education related to food production, nutrition and health. Farm to School programs increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables while supporting the local economy.
Farm to School in Marion County Schools:
Marion county schools are committed to all areas of the Farm to School initiative. Marion county public Schools, Marion County Schools Food and Nutrition office, and Marion County Hospital District have built a great partnership with the shared goal of healthier habits for the students of Marion County. With this partnership Marion County has a raised garden bed at every elementary school and a living landscape or greenhouse at nearly every secondary level school. These gardens and greenhouses give students hands on learning on where their food comes from, how plants grow, and provides many other learning opportunities. This hand on experience has shown to increase student’s willingness to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Local Purchases:
Marion County Food and Nutrition office also believes in supporting local farmers. As part of our bid process, any produce vendor we work with must buy as much local produce as available. Additionally, we purchase directly from local Farms to hold taste test periodically and Farm Fresh Fridays once a month.
Farm to School Taste test:
Farm to School taste test focuses mainly on elementary students. These taste test allow elementary students to learn about locally sourced items as well as taste items not normally found on school or home menus. These events not only encourage them to try new things but also exposes them to items locally available.
Farm Fresh Fridays:
Farm Fresh Fridays highlight a locally sourced produce item one Friday a month across all grade levels at lunch service. Age appropriate signage is displayed on the serving line to educate, inform and sometimes amuse the students on the item.
