USDA’s farm-to-school census report shows promising results
In celebration of Farm-to-School Month this October, the USDA released a census report highlighting the extent to which the farm-to-school movement is “taking root” in schools across the country. Farm-to-school programs are “flourishing in every state in the nation” with “43 percent of all public school districts have an existing farm to school program in place. Another 13 percent of school districts surveyed are committed to launching a farm to school program in the near future.”
As American children get more of their food from local farms and gardens, support for local farmers, ranchers and small businesses has been growing as well.
“The Census results give us a national snapshot of how schools are connecting with local farmers, ranchers and small businesses—everything from bringing healthy foods into the cafeteria and holding taste tests of local products to helping to plant school gardens and hosting field trips to local farms.”
Learn more about the Farm-to-School Census Report at the USDA’s blog.
Read Kevin Concannon’s blog post about how the Farm-to-School movement supports a strong agricultural economy.
