Farm to School

All mailings and resources below are in Microsoft Word unless otherwise noted.

Farm to School (F2S) aims to connect local farms with schools to serve more healthful, locally produced foods to students; provide unique nutrition education opportunities; and improve Wisconsin's economy by developing new markets for farmers. Currently, over 70 districts in Wisconsin are participating in F2S activities. These activities include everything from procuring one or more local items to school gardens to local food tastings and more! Farm to School Food Service Director Toolkit - This toolkit is designed to assist directors interested in F2S start a program or expand an existing program. It will help you evaluate your current needs and abilities, locate and purchase products direct from producers, incorporate local foods in your menu, promote your program, and much more.

Institutional Food Market Coalition 6th Annual Meeting - Step Forward to Local - May 23, 2012, Madison, WI

Getting Started

1. Connect with key players (i.e. school administration, teachers, parents, school nutrition professionals, farmers, existing distributers, etc).
2. Once you have interest, form a F2S team to assess what is feasible at each school and start small. Starting small could be a taste testing, farm tour, one product etc.
3. Plan ahead; know how you will incorporate F2S into your programs. Keep in mind seasonal availability and storage.
4. As your F2S program continues to grow, ongoing marketing will help increase the excitement surrounding it and keep participation up.
5. There are several resources available to assist you listed at the bottom of this webpage.

What You Need to Know

• WI State Regulations for Buying Locally Grown Foods - Chapter 4
• Locally Grown, Fresh, Raw, Whole Fruits and Vegetables - Joint memo from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, explaining that there is no licensing requirement for sources of fresh produce. September 2010.
• Geographic Preference Rule
• Accessing Local Produce
• Bulk Milk - Issues to consider when purchasing and serving bulk milk

What Schools are Doing

• Wisconsin School News: Reap the Benefits
• Wisconsin Farm to School
• School Gardens
  • Weston School Garden Initiative
• Email your farm to school including school garden success stories and activities to Alicia Dill.

Legislation

Wisconsin is experiencing much excitement surrounding the "growth" of Farm to School programming both nationally and in Wisconsin as demonstrated by the 2009 Wisconsin Act 293 and Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" federal campaign.

Grant Opportunities

• USDA Planning and Implementation Grants
  • USDA Guidance Memo Annoucement of Farm to School Grants - April 17, 2012
• Additional Grant Opportunities

Resources

• Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass
• Nutritious, Delicious, Wisconsin: Connecting Nutrition Education and Local Foods - DPI 2011
  • Nutritious, Delicious, Wisconsin Poster
• DPI SNT Webcast WI Farm to School: Linking the Land with the Lunchroom August 17, 2011
• USDA Farm to School
  • Procurement Q & A
  • 2010 Summary (July 2011)
• Farm to School.org
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Got Dirt? Gardening Initiative
• Research, Education, Action, and Policy (REAP) Food Group
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP), Buy Local Buy Wisconsin
• Institutional Food Market Coalition
• Minnesota Farm to School Toolkit
• Nutrition - Bulletin Board Resources
  • Farm to School
  • School Garden
• Past Webinars on F2S:
  • Sowing Seeds: Improving Food Quality with Farm to School Programs - March 11, 2010
  • USDA Farm to School: Opportunities to Increase Local Foods in School Meal - March 10, 2010
• Connect with Farmers

For questions about this information, contact Julie A. Cox (608) 267-9206

Last updated on 5/15/2012 11:09:50 AM