South Carolina Department of Agriculture Farm to School Program

The South Carolina Farm to School Program originated in 2011 as a two-year project funded from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Since the program began, it has expanded to not only include more funded schools, but also other institutions including preschools. In 2015, the umbrella organization South Carolina Farm to Institution was founded to encompass a wide variety of institutional sites beyond preschools and schools.

The Program is a collaborative partnership between the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina Department of Education, South Carolina Department of Social Services and Clemson University. The South Carolina Farm to Institution Program seeks to increase the number of farmers certified to provide locally grown products into institutions, such as: schools, preschools, hospitals, military installations, and other businesses.

Core components of the South Carolina Farm to Institution Program include providing education to foodservice staff on procuring and preparing local products, promoting SC Grown within cafeterias and food service operations, and creating hands-on experiences such as farmers markets, CSAs, and institutional gardens.

The South Carolina Farm to Institution Program supports sites in implementing four components:

1. Source at least two SC grown fruits and vegetables per month
2. Promote SC grown in the cafeteria
3. Integrate nutrition and agriculture education
4. Establish a vegetable garden or farmers market