October is National Farm to School Month! That means celebrating the work of schools and food service staff that serve local foods in their cafeterias, the local farmers who make it possible for kids to eat healthfully, and educators who use school gardens to teach about ecology or health.
In light of this ongoing celebration, it is worth exploring the success of these projects in achieving the goals of farm to school. That is: do they really improve our kids’ health? Do they really support the local economy, the educational system, and the environment?
The answer is yes
As recent research shows, the answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ Because of farm to school programs:
- Students are more willing to try new foods and healthier options (1, 2)
- Food service staff report higher morale and teachers make positive lifestyle changes (PDF)(3, 4, 5)
- Farmers are able to diversify their income streams and find new market opportunities (6, 7)
- Students are more aware(PDF) of the environment, including seasonality and agriculture (8, 9)
In our own Ohio communities, some success stories include:
- Reynoldsburg City School District started the Edible Reynoldsburg Schoolyard Project, designed for K‐12 students to learn about nutrition, make ecological observations, and learn about local food systems
- Rural Action, Chesterhill Produce Auction, and Hocking College are working together to provide fresh, local produce to a network of six rural school districts
- Akron City Schools’ third, fourth, and fifth grade students are participating in field trips to local farms so that students can learn about agriculture and taste test fresh produce
Have a success story of your own? Share it with Ohio Farm to School on Facebook.
Interested in getting started with farm to school? Visit the National Farm to School website and check out their resources.
Finally, don’t miss out on the Great Lakes Apple Crunch! One of the best ways to celebrate Farm to School Month is to post a photo of your group biting into an Ohio-grown apple on our Ohio Farm to School Facebook page.
