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Farm to School Program

Connecting children to the food they eat

RECENT NEWS

Philadelphia Pilots Farm to School Program

The pilot program, which connects University City High School, Philadelphia High School for Girls, Central High School, Overbrook High School and High School of the Future with local farmers, brings fresh, local fruits and vegetables into the schools and puts Philadelphia at the forefront of the national farm to school movement. The pilot is a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, the Common Market, Fair Food and The Food Trust.

The Issue

Farm to school efforts connect schools with nearby farms for the benefit of children and a sustainable food system. Farm to school programs can include: buying and featuring farm fresh foods in classrooms and cafeterias, adopting nutrition and agriculture-based curriculum, and providing experiential learning opportunities through farm visits, gardening and recycling programs.

Learn more: National Farm to School website

 

The Food Trust Solution

In August 2007, the Community Food Security Coalition chose eight agencies to coordinate farm to school efforts across the nation. The Food Trust is the Farm to School Network's Mid-Atlantic Region Lead Agency.

The Food Trust is the hub for farm to school activities in the mid-Atlantic region, which encompasses Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In this role, The Food Trust provides resources and support for farm to school efforts in the region through priority areas of policy, information systems, media and marketing, networking opportunities as well as training and technical assistance for individuals working on farm to school issues.

In addition, The Food Trust’s Kindergarten Initiative, an early intervention model that builds healthy eating patterns for children and their families while supporting local agriculture, is a successful example of farm to school efforts.

Learn more: Contact The Food Trust.