Farm to School Program

The Willamette Farm and Food Coalition is actively educating Lane County kids about where their food comes from and working to incorporate locally grown produce into the meals served in our schools.

Program Goals Local Food in School Lunches Educational Activities State-wide Work and Recognition Supporters News Get Involved Contribute Resource Links

GOALS OF THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM Increase students’ knowledge of where their food comes from, how it is grown, and the benefits of eating locally. Improve students’ nutrition by exposing them to a wide variety of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables (giving priority to students with the greatest need). Develop new markets for local farms and connect students to the source of their food by incorporating more locally grown produce into meals served in schools. Support policies at the school district, local, state and national levels that increase opportunities for farm to school programs.

LOCAL FOOD IN SCHOOL LUNCHES
We are working to bring locally grown products to our school cafeterias. Each month an Oregon grown fruit or vegetable is highlighted in the cafeteria and in the classroom and served weekly in all Bethel, Eugene 4J and Springfield District cafeterias as part of a Harvest of the Month program.  Bethel School District purchases large quantities of locally grown produce. Eugene 4J District increased their local produce purchases almost ten-fold in 2010 as compared to 2009. Springfield Public Schools is also purchasing from local farms including the FOOD for Lane County Youth Farm, which is located on school district property.  With our support, in 2010 there was a doubling of Lane County produce sold to Lane County schools. 

Information for Farmers: There is an opportunity to get the food that you grow into the mouths of school children in Lane County! It’s not easy or hugely profitable, but it can be a new market for your crops and help connect kids with the source of their food. Here is document to help you get started, if you are interested. Click here.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Each fall and spring we bring a comprehensive educational program to students in the Bethel, Eugene 4J, and Springfield School Districts. The program includes:

• an introductory lesson about where our food comes from
• farm field trips
• a harvest meal
• school garden sessions
• nutrition lessons
• tasting tables

Farm Field Trips
Students visit local farms and have the opportunity to taste fresh produce in the field, help with a farm task, and harvest produce to bring back to school.

Harvest Day
Students prepare a snack or meal together with food they harvested on their farm field trip.

Garden Sessions
Students help to plant, tend and harvest vegetables. These activities are implemented in collaboration with The School Garden Project of Lane County.

Garden-based Nutrition Education
Lessons focus on the nutritional value of fresh fruits and vegetables. These activities are implemented in collaboration with staff from Oregon State University’s Nutrition Education program.

Tasting Tables
During lunch time in the cafeteria students visit our special Tasting Table offering fresh locally grown vegetables from the farm they visited.

STATE-WIDE WORK AND RECOGNITION

Willamette Farm and Food Coalition was recently selected as the National Farm to School Network’s State Lead Agency for Oregon, providing technical assistance and support to Farm to School Programs throughout Oregon. We are also involved in a leadership role with the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network providing networking and information sharing opportunities for programs throughout the state. Our program coordinator, Megan Kemple, recently received the Community Educator of the Year award from the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

The Willamette Farm and Food Coalition’s Farm to School Program would like to thank the following local businesses and organizations for their generous support:

FARM TO SCHOOL NEWS

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GET INVOLVED!

If you are interested in learning more about the Farm to School Program or getting involved as a volunteer - please contact Megan Kemple, Farm to School Program Coordinator at 541-344-4329.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION!

Become a donating member of the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition.

Contribute online through PayPal by clicking below (please indicate Farm to School Program)

Or mail your contributions to:
Willamette Farm and Food Coalition
P.O. Box 41672
Eugene, OR 97404-0389

Please make checks payable to WFFC and put "Farm to School Program" on the memo line.

WFFC is a 501c(3) organization and we will send you a receipt for tax purposes.

FARM TO SCHOOL RESOURCE LINKS:

National Farm to School Program
Community Food Security Coalition
Center for Ecoliteracy
School Garden Project of Lane County