Farm to School

Delivering Food from Farm to School

What is Farm to School?

Farm to School programs take many forms, but at its heart, Farm to School is a dedication to sourcing ingredients for school meals from local, sustainable farms. There are many ways of incorporating farm to school into cafeterias, and every school district is unique in how they approach sourcing locally. Some schools serve local apples in the fall or asparagus in the spring, some seek out grass-fed beef for hamburgers, and others grow vegetables on school grounds in a student-run garden. 

Why Farm to School?

Farm to School advantages include…

·         Incorporating fresh, minimally processed fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat into kids’ diets

·         Improving taste and nutritional content of school meals

·         Reducing environmental impact by greatly cutting down on miles the food must travel

·         Investing in local economies

·         Supporting local farmers

·         Fostering relationships between farmers, schools, and families

·         Helping students understand their role in the food chain

·         Providing educational opportunities about where food comes from

·         Encouraging school garden programs and farm field trips

Farm to School programs have been cropping up all over the country as students, food service personnel, parents and farmers recognize the unparalleled value of serving fresh, locally grown, and healthy food in cafeterias. The Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership is dedicated to helping local and regional schools pursue their own farm to school programs by offering technical assistance, networking, press, and other resources. Contact us with questions!