Throughout the Southeast, school districts are coming up with innovative ways to promote farm to school efforts. Farm to school programs engage students, teachers, and communities on the importance of healthier eating habits, local food systems, and provide nutritional education that stimulates the mind and has a lasting effect. Increasing awareness about Farm to School efforts is no longer on the back burner for school nutrition professionals. In Florida, there are several school districts who have taken on the challenge to increase farm to school efforts using some unique approaches. In Sarasota County Schools, the Nutrition Department is committed to purchasing at least 50 percent of their produce from local farmers. The School Board of Alachua County has established 29 school gardens used as outdoor learning labs providing students hands-on nutritional education. This year during farm to school month, it is no surprise that Collier County Public Schools Department of Nutrition Services is promoting student health and wellness using the theme “Feeding the Future.”
By Greg Turchetta, Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Collier County Public Schools, Naples, Fla.
“Feeding the Future” is the theme of Collier County Public Schools Department of Nutrition Services, and it certainly applies to their farm to school program.
Nothing is more important than the health of our children. The Farm to School Program plays an important role in promoting well-being among children both now and in the future. Nearly one third of children in America are at risk for preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease due to being overweight and obese. Their ability to learn in the classroom, grow up healthy and to reach their fullest potential depends on what we do right now to secure their future, which is why the farm to school program is so important to help bring about healthier school meals for our children.
Collier County nutrition officials indicate that it is an “awesome program” that allows all kinds of different fruits and vegetables to be introduced to students.
Locally grown produce is featured on the Collier menus throughout the school year. Encouraging students to discover and try vegetables and fruits is a worthy goal for a healthier present and future for Collier young people. This is accomplished in a variety of ways. Offering choices of vegetables and fruits on every school menu is part of the healthful choices that students are offered each school day. Healthy snacks are also offered through USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and the District’s Farm to School Snack Program.
Oakes Farm is the bid-winning distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables that reach Collier students’ trays and their palates each school day. Oakes’ team of professionals helps find locally sourced, seasonal produce to add to the menu. During the last year the district served a wide variety of fresh, locally grown Florida produce to include but not limited to peaches, strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, sweet corn on the cob, green beans, sweet peppers, and cucumbers.
Farm to school is a reality in Collier County Public Schools. Parents are asked to encourage their children to select and eat a variety of vegetables and fruits with their school meals and remind them that fresh produce is a delicious and healthy snack to enjoy every day. In this way, students are exposed to healthier produce throughout the school year.
