Willamette Farm and Food Coalition Farm to School Program

THE GOALS OF WFFC’S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

• Increase students’ knowledge of where their food comes from, how it is grown, and the benefits of eating locally;
• Improve students’ and their families’ nutrition by increasing their exposure and access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, giving priority to those with the greatest need;
• Develop new markets for local farms and connect students to the source of their food by incorporating more locally grown foods into meals served in schools; and
• Support policies at the school district, local, state and national levels that increase opportunities for farm to school programs.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

We provide a comprehensive educational program to third through fifth grade students in the Bethel, Eugene 4J, and Springfield School Districts. We work with the schools in the Eugene/Springfield area which have the highest percentage of students in poverty. Many of the students we serve don’t have access to adequate food at home and don’t have exposure to farms or gardens. Students we serve participate in the following activities:

• an introductory lesson about where our food comes from
• farm field trips
• a harvest meal
• school garden sessions
• nutrition lessons
• tasting tables

The program  begins with a classroom lesson on where food comes from and how it's grown. Students participate in a field trip to a local farm where they  tour the farm, meet farmers, do a "helping" activity (such as plant seeds or help with composting), taste food growing in the fields, and harvest food themselves. Following their field trip, the students  prepare a healthy snack or meal at the farm or in the classroom using the food they harvested at the farm. We have learned that for students' eating habits to change, what they learn about healthy eating at school must extend to the home environment, and so our program has evolved to include families. Parent volunteers participate in student field trips and food preparation activities. In addition, at the end of the day, each child is provided with seeds or plant starts, an activity to do with their family, coupons valued at $10 which their family can redeem toward a food purchase at a local farmers market or farm stand, and educational materials for families about the opportunity to use SNAP benefits at local farmers markets and farm stands.

FAMILY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 

Through our innovative Family Outreach Program we are increasing low-income families exposure and access to fresh, locally grown foods by offering field trips and supplemental food and resources. Families participate in the following activities:

• Our information tables at family events at each school, during which families sample fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables. We provide coupons for use at nearby farmers markets or farm stands and flyers educating families about the opportunity to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at these sites;
• Farm field trips to a local farm and/or farmers market, during which families meet farmers, enjoy a snack together, and receive additional resources and coupons for use at the market or farm stand. Farms and farmers markets are in close proximity to the schools, so that families can return on their own; and
• Families receive Oregon Department of Education’s Oregon Harvest for Schools Family Newsletters, which encourage consumption of Oregon-grown fruits and vegetables at home.

LOCAL FOOD IN SCHOOL MEALS

We support school districts in Lane County in their efforts to increase the amount of locally grown and processed food served in school meals and snacks.

During the 2013-14 school year, with WFFC’s support, Lane County schools purchased Lane County grown and processed products valued at $446,113. These purchases have more than doubled from $213,809 in 2009 when we started tracking local purchases by schools.

Also in the 2013-14 school year, these same schools purchased Oregon-grown and processed products valued at  over $1.2 million.