| Ranking |
Effective Practice |
| Description |
The goal of California Farm to School is to teach students about the path that food takes from the farm to their forks while instilling healthy eating habits. In addition, the program stresses the use of local produce in school meals and provides educational activities for students to participate in. Students participate in cooking demonstrations and farm tours and are taught how to compost and plant gardens. Overall, the program aims to teach children about where their food comes from and how their food choices impact the environment, their communities, and their bodies. |
| Goal / Mission |
The goal of California Farm to School is to teach students about the path that food takes from the farm to their forks while instilling healthy eating habits. |
| Results / Accomplishments |
As of 2007, 85 school districts in California were operating Farm to School programs. These programs often results in increases in school meal participation rates. For example, one school in Riverside Unified reported a 9% increase in overall school meal participation after the program was implemented.
In addition, an analysis of students from Compton Unified School District found that students who ate lunches from the farm fresh salad bar took between 90% and 144% of recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. However, students who ate hot lunches only took between 40% and 60% of recommended servings.
|
| Categories |
Health / Exercise, Nutrition, & Weight
Health / Children's Health
|
| Organization(s) |
Center for Food & Justice |
| Date of Publication |
Jun 2007 |
| Date of Implementation |
1997 |
| Location |
State: California |
| Primary Contact |
Mindy Swanson
Center for Food and Justice
1600 Campus Road, MS M-1
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 341-5099
swanson@oxy.edu
http://www.farmtoschool.org/state-home.php?id=4
|
| For more details |
http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/publications/a_...
|
| Target Audience |
Children |
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