Farmer in the School
Farmers visit classrooms to provide agricultural education for students
Great Apple Crunch
Participate in your local Apple Crunch Day, where students bite into local apples at the same time. One community organization implemented the Great Apple Crunch, partnering with schools and a local grower who donated apples. Resources
Hands-on Farm Field Trips
On a farm field trip, students participate in the harvest of crops, such as potatoes, which are then brought back to the school and incorporated into a school meal.
Invite Students and Families to Participate
Gather information on student’s cultures through surveys, focus groups, etc., to determine what foods and meals are most desired. Gather family recipes, and then, partner with the food industry to pilot changes to ensure new foods or meals will be accepted. Examples Resources
Menu Audit
Identify where local foods are already incorporated or where local foods could easily be incorporated into a current menu. Project includes opportunities to include student perspectives and opinions in audit plans/metrics.
School Wellness Policy
School wellness policies, which can include local procurement goals as well as nutrition education, are written documents that guide a school district’s efforts to support an environment of healthy eating. Project includes opportunities to incorporate a committee of students into school policy initiatives (i.e.– student council).
Student Recipe Competition
Students in culinary class have a competition to create a recipe to be standardized and featured on the school menu.
Student Seedlings
Students start seedlings in the classroom, which are then sent to local farms. Once harvested, the produce returns to the school.
Taste Tests
Provide samples of local foods for students to try. If students like the item, work with the food industry to incorporate it into future meals.