National Center for Appropriate Technology

Getting fresh, local food into schools is an important part of Farm to School programs, but equally important is creating opportunities for young people to grow their own food. This week we're celebrating the many programs that build gardens and farm education programs in schools, allowing kids to get their hands dirty and learn what it takes to get food from seed to plate. We're kicking off the week with a spotlight on greenhouses. Does your school already have a greenhouse? Do you want to add a greenhouse to your in school farm or garden program? Whether planting gardens, growing for Farm to School programs, or integrating plant science into an existing curriculum, our Greenhouse Manual has answers that educators need. Developed in a partnership between NCAT, the U.S. Botanic Garden and City Blossoms, the manual helps educators maximize the potential of new and existing school greenhouses. Read: https://buff.ly/3ZZySa7 #farmtoschool #farmersmarket #local food #eatlocal

On Indigenous Peoples Day we honor and celebrate the wisdom of Native farmers, ranchers, and land stewards. The Intertribal Agriculture Council is just one of many Native-led organizations working to support producers, help preserve traditional agricultural methods, promote Native American food products, and empower Native youth involved in agriculture. Learn more about this national nonprofit at https://buff.ly/3BVzSBS 📷 Gilbert Louis III (Acoma Pueblo), a fourth-generation rancher in New Mexico. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung #indigenouspeoplesday #indigenousagriculture

It's National Farmer's Day! THANK YOU to all of the hardworking farmers and ranchers who care for the land and provide us with food and fiber. ❤️ #nationalfarmersday #thankafarmer

Fun Fact Friday: Farm to School can help regenerate rural economies! 🥦 👩🌾 💰 According to the USDA Farm to School Census in the 2018-2019 school year about $1.3 billion was spent by schools on locally sourced food products. Purchasing local food products by schools has increased steadily in the last ten years, and such spending helps create and retain jobs for producers and generate additional spending on local economies. Talk about a #multipliereffect! Photo: Farm to School workshop at Manor ISD #FarmtoSchool #localeconomies #ruraleconomies

If you're an institutional food buyer, whether for a school, daycare, hospital, restaurant, or church, you probably understand that your purchasing decisions can make a real difference in sustaining local farms and building healthy local food systems. At the same time, you know there can be challenges in getting small or beginning farmers to supply the volumes, packaging, and products that you need. Fortunately, NCAT has plenty of free resources to help bridge gaps between producers and buyers. They range from introductory illustrated guides: *Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on Your Farm: Good Agricultural Practices https://buff.ly/4gVXHtB * New Markets for Your Crops https://buff.ly/4f0N8Up to in-depth online tutorials: * Scaling Up for Regional Markets https://buff.ly/47YxrKQ * Produce Safety https://buff.ly/3XTQsto Lean on our resources to help you exercise your local buying power! #farmtoschool #producesafety #GoodAgriculturalPractices

Key ingredients for cooking up a successful local food purchasing program in an institution: 🥄Good communication 🥄Clear priorities 🥄Adaptable storage and processing systems 🥄Sufficient kitchen capacity and labor 🥄Teamwork There's no secret sauce that will eliminate all challenges, but the ATTRA publication Farm to Healthcare Tipsheet: Procuring Local Food, Improving Health, provides food service tips for institutions interested in starting or growing their local food purchases. This publication is aimed at hospital staff, but the tips apply to school buyers as well. Check it out at https://buff.ly/4eBmvFt #farmtoschool #F2SMonth #farmtoinstitution #localfood

What does it take for schools to bring farm fresh food into their food services? Intention, planning, and coordination with farmers and local food systems. This week we'll share resources designed to help food service leaders at institutions like schools and hospitals source local food for their operations. In this Voices from the Field podcast, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tammy Howards talks with Alison Patrick of the Feed our Future initiative, based in northeast Ohio. Tammy and Alison talk about the Feed our Future Farm to School pilot program, which led to the development of a school purchasing cooperative and a wide expansion of local produce purchasing. They also discusses the important role that food hubs have played in providing the quantity and consistency that school require. Listen: https://buff.ly/3YdOC84 Bonus: Farm to school buying programs create opportunities to support local producers from underserved communities. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jenileigh Harris, a National Farm to School Network program associate, talks with Alma Maquitico from Anthony Youth Farm in southern New Mexico about Alma’s experience working with organizations and entities across the state to collaboratively develop state-run programs that reduce school market access barriers for small producers of color. Listen: https://buff.ly/3zEbYKJ #farmtoschool #farmersmarket #localfood #eatlocal

It's Fun Fact Friday, and we have a few tasty trivia morsels about Farm to School! 🥕🏫 While October is celebrated as Farm to School Month, thousands of schools in the U.S. participate in Farm to School activities year-round. The USDA conducted a Farm to School Census in 2019 and gathered some amazing information about the program's impact. Visit farmtoschool.org for more information and to get involved! #farmtoschool ##F2SMonth Image: An infographic titled Happy National Farm to School Month! Four green squares with white text have the following information: - 12,334 Schools With Edible Gardens - 67,300+ Schools Participated in Farm to School - 42.8M Students Engaged in Farm to School Activities - School Food Services Spent $1.26B on Local Food * Estimated based on data from the USDA Farm to School Census for the 2018-2019 school year.

Serving local foods in school cafeterias has benefits for farms, students, and communities. Across the nation, more and more schools are working with local producers to put fresh and healthy foods on their menus. It's worth celebrating farm to school success stories and being inspired by the model they offer. NCAT's free publication "Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making It Work" (https://buff.ly/4eQeSuS ) profiles two Montana ranches that have successfully sold their beef into area schools. It outlines some challenges of producing, processing, and selling to schools, and it discusses the featured ranches’ business models, equipment needs, and perceptions of farm to school sales. #farmtoschool #nationalfarmtoschoolmonth USDA photo

Farmers and students alike benefit from close farm-to-school community connections. A new report documented the benefits to farmers and the environment from California’s investment in farm to school programs. The report shows that 57% of the farmers participating in the state’s Farm to School Incubator Grant Program made sales to schools, representing an average of 33% of their total farm revenues. The report event showed benefits to the community at large, because of the positive environmental impact from all the participating farmers using climate-smart agricultural practices. Read more at https://buff.ly/47NYx7s USDA photo by Ken Hammond. #farmtoschool #nationalfarmtoschoolmonth