October is National Farm to School Month
This is a time to crunch into locally grown food and celebrate all the people who make Farm to School possible including educators, farmers and nutritional professionals.
Share your story
Whether you’re a school district or a family, no celebration is too small!
We want to track and amplify the stories of how Farm to School + ECE Month activities across Minnesota are celebrating the value of healthy, local food, and the people in our school lunch rooms and on area farms who make these important connections happen.
Please fill out this form to share your story!
Explore our activities for Farm to School + ECE Month!
Sign up and be counted!
Celebrate all month
There are a variety of ways you can participate in Farm to School + ECE this year. Register to let us know how and when you’re planning to celebrate and to receive updates of opportunities. Here are a few ways you might celebrate:
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Crunch into a local apple - Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch. Sign up here to receive your official Apple Crunch guide.
- What is the crunch? Celebrate National Farm to School + ECE Month by collectively purchasing and crunching into locally and regionally grown apples at noon on Thursday, Oct. 14. Then share photos from your Crunch on social media! Everyone is welcomed to Crunch any day or time in October that works for you.
- Who should participate? K-12 schools, early care and education sites, hospitals, colleges and universities, farms, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, groups and event households can register to Crunch this year! Anyone who wants to show support for local farmers and school nutrition can join!
- Where do we Crunch? Anyone across Minnesota can register to Crunch in 2021! Crunch at school, your office, the apple orchard, the school garden or from home!
- This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports Farm to School + ECE and other local food purchasing initiatives throughout the region. It’s also a fun way to connect food and nutrition to all kinds of classroom curriculum – from science to art! Whether you’re at home or at school, crunch with us this year!
- Remember to share your Crunch video or photos on social media - #MNfarmtoschool and #F2SMonth
- You can access fun apple lessons from MN Ag in the Classroom once you sign up!
- Add a local item to a meal, snack or weekly meal kit.
- Serve an all local meal (e.g. Minnesota Thursdays).
- Cook a meal with a local item at home with family.
- Use class time for Farm to School + ECE activity.
- Host an in-person or virtual garden harvest party or other activity in the school garden.
- Have your city or county government declare October as Farm to School + ECE Heroes Month by submitting a proclamation for Farm to School + ECE month.
- Share your story on social media. Take a photo or video of your celebration and posting it to social media using #MNfarmtoschool and #F2SMonth.
Contact Jackie Billhymer at billh002@umn.edu with any questions!
Reviewed in 2021