October is National Farm to School month (#F2SMonth). “Farm to School” refers to schools serving local, farm-fresh foods ranging from fruits and veggies to honey and meat.

The more local foods we serve our kids, the better. One-third of U.S. children are obese or overweight, and only 2 percent of children get the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables each day. Farm-to-school programs increase students’ daily fruit and vegetable consumption significantly.  

Moreover, each dollar invested into Farm to School stimulates an additional $2.16 of local economic activity. In Maine, shifting 1 percent of consumer expenditures to direct purchasing of local products was shown to increase incomes of Maine farmers by as much as 5 percent. And each new Farm to School job contributes to the creation of an additional 1.67 jobs.

Often, schools incorporate curriculums that help students learn about nutrition, agriculture, science, math and the path that food takes from the farm to the table as well as creating experience-based learning opportunities by visiting farms and participating in gardening, recycling, and entrepreneurial programs.

The farm-to-school concept is simple: bring tasty, nutritious food from the people who grow it to the school kids who want to eat it. The details involved in making this a reality can be daunting, however. With that in mind, the Center for Rural Affairs has put together a Farm to School Month Starter Kit, guide, and several other resources to help wade through all the complexities. Visit http://www.cfra.org/f2s.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.