October is Farm to School Month: Empowering Schools and Communities Through Local Food
October marks Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the growing connection between schools, local farmers, and sustainable food systems. This movement, championed by the National Farm to School Network, focuses on enriching the connection between students and fresh, healthy food from local producers.
Farm to School initiatives foster healthier eating habits by introducing students to nutritious, locally sourced food through school meals, gardens, and farm field trips. The USDA has been instrumental in this effort, recently awarding 331 Texas schools with funding to purchase local food from farmers.
At the forefront of these state-wide connections is the Texas Department of Agriculture which plays a pivotal role in linking schools with local farmers and ensuring that these partnerships flourish.
This initiative not only lowers the carbon footprint by reducing food transportation but also stimulates the local economy, gives students access to better-tasting food, and creates educational opportunities where farmers can mentor students on agriculture and sustainability.
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) also plays a crucial role in connecting farmers with school distributors. Distributors like Profound Foods in Lucas, TX, Segovia Produce in Austin, TX, and Brothers Food Service are actively supporting schools in this mission.
Segovia Produce, a family-owned business, works closely with farmers to offer educational opportunities for schools, while Brothers Food Service acts as a procurement liaison, providing schools with a labeling system to easily identify Texas-grown foods. Profound Foods, located in Lucas not only works with local farmers but also offers tours for schools of their farm., works with local farmers and offers tours for their farm’s schools
Key benefits of the Farm to School program include:
Lower carbon footprint
Stimulating the local economy
Providing nutritional, local food to students
Creating educational opportunities about food origins
Reducing food waste
Offering better-tasting meals
Farmer mentoring programs
Schools can apply for USDA funding to support Farm to School initiatives or find more information by visiting the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program.
Texas Distributors with access to local farmers:
Segovia Produce, Austin
Brothers Food Service, Garland:
Profound Foods, Lucas
At WRA, we are committed to bringing communities together and sharing resources that help build healthier schools, both inside and out. Beyond our architectural designs, we assist our clients in fostering student well-being at all levels, including supporting initiatives like Farm to School programs.
By incorporating fresh, local foods into school nutrition, we are helping to create environments where students can thrive physically and academically.
If you need assistance or guidance in implementing these initiatives, our Sustainability Manager, Jennifer Spring, is here to help. Contact her at jspring@wraarchitects.com for expert advice on integrating farm-fresh food into your school’s nutrition program and making the most of available resources.