Photo courtesy of The Orme School
October is Farm to School Month! Farm to School Month is about celebrating connections between communities and food, and highlighting the impact schools and local farmers can have on each other.
While participating in farm to school activities, students gain access to valuable information they can utilize now and for years to come. Students learn about where their food comes from, how to grow their own food, and how food impacts their health.
Farm to School Month doesn’t just benefit students – it also supports the local economy. Often during this special month, schools purchase from local farmers and establish year-round efforts to continue these important relationships. This support for local farmers creates jobs, pumps money back into the local economy, builds community relationships, and so much more.
Nationwide, 23.6 million students receive some kind farm to school education. 67 school districts all over Arizona participate in farm to school activities. That means over 300,000 students in 574 schools get to reap the benefits of healthy, local food and food education! Find out if your local school district participates in farm to school activities here.
Several organizations in Arizona have tools and resources to help school and communities start farm to school activities. The Community Food Bank of Arizona helps schools create garden spaces. It also provides food and nutrition education. The Pima County Food Alliance helps schools get their gardens certified. School garden certification allows food grown in school gardens to be used in cafeteria lunches. Click here to learn more about the numbers behind farm to school efforts in Arizona and across the country.
Throughout October, make an effort to celebrate Farm to School Month! Even if your child’s school is not participating in farm to school programs, you can implement your own activities at home. Take a trip to the local farmers market, cook a meal together, or start a little home garden.
Farm to school education can improve your child’s health and help them foster a healthy, long-lasting relationship to their food and their community. Spend this month (and every month) eating nutritiously, supporting communities, and learning about food.
Happy Farm to School Month!
