In 1917 an OSU Extension Agricultural Agent reported, “The first problem presented to me was to rouse the county to the need for an increased production of food.” In 2014, Farm to School offers the opportunity to rouse the state to connect local youth with local food!
From the cafeteria, local food can be served at school breakfast, lunch, after school snack time and at summer meals. In Ohio, the traditional time students are out of school for summer break is also the time when many varieties of fruits and vegetables are in season for fresh meals. A variety of options such as hoop houses are helping growers extend the traditional growing season into the months that school is in session.
Not only is it important for young people from pre-K through college to have the chance to eat local foods but it is also crucial that they learn about it! Students can learn in the classroom as well as the cafeteria, on field trips or at the school or community garden. The goal is to provide young people with fresh, local food and use it to teach topics such as nutrition education, science, where food comes from and how our how food choices affect the environment and community.
Farm to School helps communities by keeping more local money in the local economy. In addition to the economic value, communities also benefit when Farm to School programs bring people and resources together to strengthen the entire community. 
Interested in joining others to learn more? This year there are five scheduled Ohio Farm to School Regional Workshops, designed to make connections that result in healthy young people, healthy economies and healthy communities: http://farmtoschool.osu.edu/events/workshops/
Photo Source: USDA SNAP-Ed Connection.
Writer: Patrice Powers-Barker, MA, CFLE, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County, Maumee Valley EERA, powers-barker.1@osu.edu
Reviewer: Carol Smathers, MS, MPH, Ohio State University Extension Field Specialist, Farm to School State Leader, smathers.14@osu.edu
