About Farm to School
Are you …
a parent concerned about what your child eats in school?
a farmer who wants to see local kids eating the fruits of your labor?
a teacher who would like a little help connecting your students to the natural world and the concept of developing a healthy lifestyle?
Then “Farm to School” is for you!
You know the statistics…
- Levels of obesity have rapidly increased in recent years - about 60% of all New Mexicans and about 25% of our state’s high school students are obese or overweight.
- The risk of being diagnosed with Type II diabetes is now 30% for boys, 40% for girls, and is even higher for Hispanic and Native American children.
- Only 25% of children ages 2 to 11 consume even 3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. (The guidelines recommend about 7 servings.)
- This is the first generation of children in America who will not live as many years as their parents.
Now, you could play the “blame game”:
- The fast food industry has ruined the health of America because that kind of restaurant is around every corner and they concentrate on foods that are fast, cheap and full of extra fats and sugars.
- The agro-industrial complex in our country is all-powerful and they do not concentrate on providing good nourishing food for people.
- Parents don’t have time to cook these days. In fact, lots of parents don’t even know how to cook or what constitutes a healthy diet.
- Fruits and vegetables are just too expensive.
Or you could get active! Below are some ways to do this. You can also look on the Get Active page for the newest opportunities to get involved with Farm to School.
Parents:
- Work with your child’s school PTA or other group to help your school serve better food. Start by eating the food in the cafeteria. Volunteer in the cafeteria to help prepare the food.
- Make a link between a classroom in the school and a local farmer you know or that you get to know at your farmer’s market.
- Make a pitch to your school board or run for a position on your school board.
- Be a good example - teach your kids how to cook and appreciate healthy foods.
Farmers:
- Contact Farm to Table or another Farm to School representative in your area and find out how to sell your products to schools.
- Teach someone else how to farm. Are you going to be the last of your breed? Represent the science and art of farming during a career day at a nearby school.
School Food Service Professionals:
- Contact a Farm to School representative, look in our directories, talk with farmers at farmer’s markets and ask if they can get their product in to your school.
Teachers:
- Look up some of the resources here for curricula and activity ideas.
- One of the best ways to get a child to eat that broccoli is if she picks it herself - get your kids out on a field trip to a farm, to a weekday farmer’s market, a grocery store or a food bank.
There is a large problem out there:
- Kids are overweight and sedentary and not healthy.
- There are not enough farmers growing food to feed their local communities.
- Schools often don’t have adequate funding to provide the best foods for school meals.
- Kids don’t know where their food comes from or what a healthy diet consists of.
If you can take even one small step to help alleviate these problems, YOU will make a difference.
Explore our site for the latest in Farm to School news and GOOD LUCK in making your community more healthy and more sustainable.
There are over 1100 farm to school programs in over 35 states. Find one near you by visiting the National Farm to School Network site.
Continue to visit our site. We are posting new information often. Contact us for more.