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Farm to School 

Farm to School is a comprehensive effort to increase access to healthy food options for Indiana students and create new market opportunities for Indiana farmers. The term “farm to school” encompasses efforts that: Source locally grown foods as part of the school meal or snack program; Offer hands-on learning activities such as school gardening, farm visits, food demonstrations and tastings; Integrate food, agriculture and nutrition education into the regular, standards-based classroom curriculum.

Facts about farm to school

Farm to school is shown to:

  • Increase fruit and vegetable consumption in students (+1 serving) and positive diet changes at home.
  • Increase knowledge about gardening, agriculture, healthy food, local and seasonal food in students.
  • Increase willingness by students to try new, healthy food in the cafeteria and at home.
  • Lower school meal program costs and increase meal participation 3-16% in the cafeteria.
  • Decrease food waste in the lunchroom.
  • Improve cafeteria staff morale and knowledge of local food.

Is your school participating?

Purdue Extension, 615 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (765) 494-8491

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