Farm to School events will be held in early 2020 in the communities listed below across Minnesota.

Farm to School enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools & early care sites to strengthen childhood nutrition, community partnerships,
 & local economies.

Who should attend?

• School staff and administration, including kitchen & nutrition staff
• Local producers of all kinds - meat, vegetable and fruits, grains, and more!
• Interested parents and PTO representatives
• Wellness committee members, school garden staff & volunteers, Family and Consumer Science teachers
• Existing community partners working on health & wellness initiatives (SHIP, RSPD, Extension, etc.)
• Other community institutions interested in purchasing local foods and meeting farmers, like hospitals and early care sites

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT FALL 2020 VIRTUAL SCHOOL GARDEN SUPPORT SESSIONS

Online registration opens as soon as local dates and venues have been confirmed and concludes one week prior to the event. 

• Aitkin - February 4 - registration closed, agenda here
• Grand Rapids - February 13 ^ - registration closed, agenda here
• Wabasha/Lake City - February 18 *^, registration closed, agenda here
• Cannon Falls - March 10th - invite only - space is limited - please only register if you have been contacted 
• Chisago City - March 27^ POSTPONED due to public health recommendations about large gatherings during COVID-19 epidemic, registrants will receive emails with updates - registration closed on 3/4/2020, maximum capacity reached
• Rochester - TBD 

*garden session scheduled separately from general event - details will be posted when available, and are communicated locally

^culinary skills training scheduled separately from general event - details will be posted when available, and are communicated locally

What are the learning objectives of these events?

Each event has been planned to reflect the needs of the local participants. In general, these Farm to School workshops are an opportunity to build Farm to School skills and connections that will support Farm to School practices. As part of the community event (or, in some cases, scheduled separately) common components include interactive panels sharing Farm to School best practices and experiences, networking time between farmers and buyers, culinary skills training, school garden best practices, learning about local aggregation opportunities for efficient transportation and ordering, existing Farm to School toolkits and resources, and more. 

Partners 

These events are made possible by the USDA Farm to School Grant program and many local sponsors. Organizing partners include the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, the Minnesota Farmers Market Association, and Renewing the Countryside. Content partners include The Good Acre, the MN Schoolyard Garden Coalition, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

Resources

Click here for learn more about existing toolkits, curriculum, and other resources that support Farm to School and Farm to Institution.

Please contact Grace (grace [at] rtcinfo [dot] org) with questions about how your school or farm can navigate the complexities of Farm to School in your community. She is available to provide practical assistance to attendees of our Farm to School events through August 2020.