Farm to School Program, Schools and Daycares, SD Department of Education

Schools

The Department of Education's Child and Adult Nutrition Program encourages school meal 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.