The department’s Farm to School Program is wrapping up a record-setting year for school sales. A total of $800,000 worth of North Carolina commodities were purchased by schools systems across the state during 2009-2010, easily outpacing 2008-2009 sales by $100,000.
Strawberries and blueberries are the final two commodities of the year, both extremely popular with school kids. A total of 46 school systems are participating by including strawberries or blueberries on the menu.
The Farm to School Program has been an extremely popular program with school kids and farmers alike. With a greater emphasis on healthy food offerings in school cafeterias, program organizers hope to see it continue to grow.
A recent video by the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention focuses on the Farm to School Program and the many benefits it provides. The video was produced through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and highlights the program through the words of school children, child nutrition directors, farmers and child nutrition advocates and NCDA&CS.
Check out the video clip below to learn more about the Farm to School Program.
[videos]9_CfpVLO9uM[/videos]
Other video partners include: N.C. Child Nutrition Services, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Cirque Productions and more.