Florida Farm to School

What is Farm to School?

Florida Farm to School logo Farm to School enables every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers. In addition to supplying nourishing, locally grown and produced food in schools, the Farm to School program encourages and supports nutrition and agriculture education through taste tests, school gardens, composting programs, and farm tours. Such experiences help children understand where their food comes from and how their food choices affect their bodies, environment, and community.

Chronology

Early Florida Farm to School

Florida's pioneering and successful farm to school program was initiated by a group of innovative African-American farmers after they formed the New North Florida Cooperative Association Inc. (NNFC) in 1995. The NNFC began selling to Gadsden County schools during the 1996-1997 school year and since that time has rapidly expanded. Positive word-of-mouth publicity led to a high demand for their products among school districts. To adjust for changes associated with expansion, the NNFC has functioned as a council that helps connect farmers to local schools since 2002.

Florida Farm to School Today

Farm to School connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the lead agency for the Florida Farm Fresh Schools Program supporting Farm to School activities in Florida.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services works with schools and growers through their web site providing information about the availability of fresh Florida produce, the fruit and vegetable needs of schools, and contact information for both the schools and growers.

USDA Publications and Guidance

Procurement

Events

National Farm to School Month- October 2011

On November 16, 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives passed resolution 1655 introduced by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) to establish October as National Farm to School Month to ensure our children obtain the highest quality food at school, help foster local farm job growth, and create local economic development.

How can I celebrate Farm to School Month?

There are many ways to celebrate Farm to School Month, but this year's theme is "Bring a Farmer or Chef to School." To celebrate the first National Farm to School Month, schools across the country will be inviting farmers and chefs to visit their school during the month of October. Not only is this a fun and educational activity most schools can participate in, regardless of their current involvement in Farm to School, it also lends itself to a very focused media pitch with great stories and visual content. If you need help finding a chef or farmer in your area or advice about organizing an event, contact Rachael Terrin at Rachael.Terrin@freshfromflorida.com.

But whether you are a food service professional, a farmer, a teacher or just a food-loving family, there are plenty of ways to celebrate and get involved. Visit our resource page for a list of ideas and other materials to help you spread the word in your community. Visit our contact page to find a program in your area or to connect with advocates working on the national level. Our shop has Farm to School Month clothing and other items to help you spread the word and celebrate.