Farm to School: National Resources
USDA Farm to SchoolThis online resource was formed to assist schools in starting or expanding their Farm to School activities; assist in the communication between farmers and schools; share information about Farm to School activities across the Nation; and keep you informed of the legislative and regulatory changes that influence Farm to School activities. Includes:
Farm to School and School Gardening: A Resource List for Educators (PDF | 163 KB)
USDA. NAL. Food and Nutrition Information Center.
A collection of resources on the topic of Farm to School and School Gardening for educators.
2010 USDA Farm to School ReportUSDA. FNS. Agricultural Marketing Service.
A summary report of the USDA Farm to School Team's site visits in 2010.
Be a Food Detective (PDF | 148 KB)USDA. Ag in the Classroom.
An activity for students in grades 9 - 12 to explore what a food is made of, the source of ingredients, and where the ingredients are grown.
Brochure: Connecting local farms to school lunch programsExample brochure from UC Davis that could be adapted to promote local farm to school programs.
Buying and Selling Local Foods: PublicationsOccidental College. Urban & Environmental Policy Institute. Farm to School.
Access to state and national resources, articles, and fact sheets.
Chefs A' Field Season 3 - Kids on the FarmFeatures 30 minute episodes to help viewers discover why thoughtful agricultural practices make a difference in how our food tastes and its nutritional content while learning tips and ideas for cooking with their families.
Cooks for Kids: Cooking Green Across AmericaNational Food Service Management Institute.
This season of the series shows the connection schools have with local farms to serve healthy meals in school cafeterias, as well as other topics.
Crunch Lunch: Farmers Market Salad BarA case study from DJUSD describing their implementation of a self-serve lunch meal consisting of local produce. Equipment needs, challenges and successes, and fiscal analysis are included
Delivering More: Scaling Up Farm to School Programs (PDF | 1.1 MB)
Community Food Security Coalition.
Learn how farm to school programs can reach more students and more schools by reading about example programs in this booklet.
Eat Smart-Farm Fresh! A Guide to Buying and Serving Locally-Grown Produce in School Meals (PDF | 1.29 MB)
USDA. Food and Nutrition Service.
Handbook for school food service focusing on procurement, distribution, how to find locally-grown food and farmers, menu planning considerations, and strategies for success.
Farm to School: A Selected and Annotated Bibliography
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
This bibliography documents existing research and resources on Farm to School and Farm to Institution efforts around the Nation.
Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success (PDF | 960 KB)
FoodRoutes Network.
Provides case studies of successful farm to school programs already in place and resources to help implement a new program.
Farm to School Program InformationCommunity Food Security Coalition.
Describes how Farm to School Projects work, assistance available for these projects, organizing tools, case studies, publications and links, and possible funding sources for these programs.
Farm to School ProgramsUniversity of California at Davis. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.
Information on benefits of farm to school programs, brochures, and other resources for implementing a farm to school program.
Food CorpsFood Corps.
This program helps teach children about healthy foods while building and tending school gardens. You can find more information about grants and host sites.
Fresh from the Farm: Using Local Foods in the Afterschool and Summer Nutrition Programs (PDF | 2.97 MB)Food Research and Action Center.
This guide outlines strategies and approaches for accessing local products.
Fresh from the World... Where Your Food Comes FromUniversity of Illinois Extension. Urban Program Resource Network.
Interactive website suggested for 4th and 5th grad students that includes fun activities, games, and lots of educational animations on different food histories.
General Farm to School Resources (PDF | 124.59 KB)Santa Fe School District, New Mexico.
A list of resources on Farm to School programs. Information is included for funding opportunities as well.
Going Local: Paths to Success For Farm to School Programs (PDF | 5.7 MB)National Farm to School Program Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and Community Food Security Coalition.
Read about eight successful farm to school programs from around the country in this report.
A Guide to Purchasing and Serving Local Foods in Schools (PDF | 7.06 MB)The DC Farm to School Network.
A guide for schools interested in participating in farm to school programs. This would be most helpful for schools in the Washington, DC area as it includes several local farms and vendors.
Harvest of the Month Training CornerHarvest of the Month provides teacher resources that help link the cafeteria and the classroom. It includes training materials, activities for children, recipes, and “monthly elements,” including educator newsletters, family newsletters, menu slicks and press release templates.
How Far Did it Travel? Exploring the Geography of Food (PDF | 97.3 KB)Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom
Explanation of the path food takes from farm to plate.
National Farm to School ProgramUEPI. Center for Food and Justice.
Site highlights different state farm to school programs, provides a free resource packet by request, sample policies, case studies, and related news.
Nourishing the Nation One Tray at a TimeThis publication of the Community Food Security Coalition is an educational resource for teachers and staff interested in the Farm to School program. Discusses the Child Nutrition Act and Farm to School, including history of the program, benefits, case studies, and advantages of the program.
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