Farm to School
As I was driving through Mountain View in South East San Diego, I came across a "Dream. Believe. Achieve." sign outside of Baker Elementary School. Directly to the left was a sign promoting a new San Diego Unified Food System initiative called “Farm to School.” Upon closer look, the initiative provides every child in the school with free breakfast and lunch every single day. SDUSD works directly with local farms to reconnect children to their food sources by incorporating local products in school meals and providing learning opportunities through school gardens, chefs in the classroom, and educational sessions for the community.
151,440 children in San Diego County are food insecure and 66% of those children are eligible for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches. When 1 in 5 children in San Diego County are food insecure, the meals they receive at school are crucial for their health and ability to learn. Principal Gallagher of Baker Elementary commented, "We know that healthy food is critical for learning and that's why we have the Breakfast in the Classroom Program and Free Lunch for every student." Baker Elementary has a strict no sweets policy, not even as birthday treats or fundraiser incentives. She knows that exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables at a young age promotes life-long healthy food habits, decreasing a child's risk of obesity and helping them stay focused and full in the classroom.
With childhood obesity on the rise, parents and educators want to see their children have access to healthier options at school. At the same time small, local farms are struggling to survive. Farm to school programs address both of these local concerns. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities. Farm to school programs and initiatives are a win-win: kids win, local farms win, communities win.
Below is the link to the Farm to School 2015 national survey infographic. To learn more download the image and share it with 5 people with the hashtag #farmtoschool. As always check in next Sunday to read The Weekly Catch.