Community Food Security - read the Hunger Commission's food access study and download free food access study materials including curriculum for nutrition education workshops.

Farm to School Programs

Farm to School programs exist to counteract the negative trends of childhood obesity by incorporating healthy, nutritious, produce into school lunches, snacks and salad bars. We want kids to know that fresh produce tastes great! When combined with nutrition education, farm visits, school gardens, and education in the classroom, children can develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. In addition, they can decrease the risk of experiencing food related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

While child obesity is on the rise, local farmers continue to suffer as well. Family farming in the United States is in crisis. Of all occupations in America, farming is facing the greatest decline. With increasing costs for land and water, the unchecked growth of agri-business, and shrinking markets due to globalization, growers find themselves selling the farm in order to feed their own families. Farm income is also in decline. The farmer share of the food dollar has dropped from 41 cents in 1950 to 20 cents in 1999. Many farms remain in business only because of family members who have other jobs and provide off-farm income.

The major goals of the Farm to School Program are to connect local farmers with nearby schools, so that: 1) children can enjoy tasty fruits and vegetables, while connecting with farms - the source of their food; and 2) farmers can develop an additional source of income.

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