October is National Farm to School Month
Farm to School is a program that ensures communities have fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings. This is especially important as healthy eating and physical activity are connected to lower rates of obesity in children. By teaching children about healthy practices, they are more likely to choose healthy foods—better positioning themselves to thrive.
National Farm to School Network has a vision of a strong and just food system for all, and we seek deep transformation toward this vision through farm to school – the ways kids eat, grow, and learn about food in schools and early care and education settings.
National Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month is in October. To celebrate, you can crunch into a locally grown apple in as part of North Carolina Crunch. This event, sponsored by the NC Farm to Preschool Network and the Farm to School Coalition of NC, celebrates North Carolina agriculture, local farmers and farm workers, and nutrition.
North Carolina Crunch promotes healthy eating and supports farm to school and other local food purchasing initiatives throughout the state. North Carolina Crunch also connects food and agriculture to all kinds of classroom learning opportunities. Child care sites can have local apples available for the children to try and crunch on while learning all about apple varieties.
If you’re unable to participate in North Carolina Crunch on October 20, you can host your own Crunch event anytime during October’s National Farm to School Month festivities. For more information on how you can participate in NC Crunch activities, please go to North Carolina Crunch.
Healthy food in child care centers and schools is an integral element as Smart Start and Shape NC are developing the next chapter of supporting physical activity and nutrition in early care and education settings through a new initiative called Beyond Shape: Coaching for Technical Assistants. Beyond Shape will strengthen early childhood systems across the network by increasing the capacity of Technical Assistants (TAs) to provide coaching and support to child care centers.
About National Farm to School Month Fact Sheet
