Farm to School Program, Childcare and Summer Feeding Programs, SD Department of Education

Childcare and Summer Feeding

The Department of Education's Child and Adult Nutrition Program encourages childcare and summer feeding programs to make local foods a staple of their menus. You can start by looking for seasonally available local foods to ensure that kids can enjoy fresh-from-the-fields goodness, or by developing a relationship with a local meat producer. And, remember, Farm to School is more than just providing fresh local food - it's also about helping kids learn about food production and preparation.

Five ways to start a Farm to School program. 1.
Identify a local food producer in your community or region. You can find them through connections in your community or through an internet search. 2. Start small: Choose one local item for kids to taste test or serve it as a part of your programâ€™s meal service.
3. Plant a garden. Involve the kids from start to finish! Incorporate into your menu.
4. Take a field trip to a local producer's farm or ranch.
5. Contact the Department of Education's Farm to School specialist for more ideas!

Be sure to check out the Farm to School Resources section.