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 have been confirmed and concludes one week prior to the event. 

• Chisago City - virtual - Wednesday, February 3, 1-3pm - AGENDA - REGISTER
• Rochester - coming soon
• The Good Acre Virtual F2S culinary training - coming soon 

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.

Contact: Sara George, (715) 651-5046 or sara [at] rtcinfo.org