Northwest Education Services’ Farm to School
The Northwest Education Services’ Farm to School team collaborates with learning community stakeholders to plan and implement programming focused on promoting student health and wellness through engaging learning activities centered around nutrition, fresh foods, and local agriculture. Our engagement focuses on work in the classroom, cafeteria, and wider school community.
Farm to School looks different in every learning community, Northwest Education Services’ program embraces these three main components:
- Classroom - Providing educational opportunities that encompass health, nutrition, wellness, and agriculture. Farm to School education can be facilitated through classroom learning activities, store or farm field trips, experiential learning, school garden lessons, and more.
- Cafeteria - Presenting students with an inviting and aesthetically pleasing lunchroom and allowing them to try new fresh foods. Farm to School can be promoted through local food sourcing, student taste tests, and marketing healthy food choices.
- Community - Support and involvement from community stakeholders like administrators, family, and community members nurture the growth of Farm to School programs. Community involvement includes improving institutional wellness policies, family cooking classes, pop-up farmer’s markets, community volunteers, as well as building partnerships with local businesses and farmers.