October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools, food and local farmers! This year, the theme is Growing for the Future. Farm to School ensures that students eat healthy, fresh, and locally grown meals in schools, and that farmers earn a reliable source of income by feeding their community.
Here at Community Roots we’re proud of our commitment to Farm to School work, starting with our goal of purchasing ingredients sourced as locally as possible. Last year that mostly involved working with regional food hubs- an important source for aggregating local food from multiple farms. This year we’ve been able to turn our focus to more direct purchases from local farms, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build and expand on that practice.
Also new this year we’ve launched a comprehensive Harvest of the Month program, which combines lessons and tastings in more than 250 classrooms across our community with wraparound opportunities in the cafeteria. We’re already hearing great feedback from families, teachers, and community members about the impact this has on encouraging kids to explore- and love- fresh, local produce!
Farm to School is so important to us, it’s even stated as part of our mission statement: “…we seek to educate our students about the importance of healthy eating habits and sustainable food systems. We believe that by instilling a lifelong appreciation for nutritious foods and environmental stewardship, we can contribute to the development of a healthier, more resilient community. Our commitment extends beyond the cafeteria, as we work to integrate nutrition education into the broader school curriculum and engage the community in our mission.”
Join us in celebrating Farm to School- this month, and every month!