Celebrate Farm-to-School Month

School meals can be an opportunity for learning in many ways. There are lessons in nutrition, sowing, germinating, harvesting, processing, shipping, selling and cooking. As National Farm-to-School Month, October is a perfect time to introduce these lessons. Or, if it feels a little late for this year, starting planning for next!

Farm-to-school efforts ensure the freshest foods in school meals. Most of us think of crop agriculture when we hear farm-to-school, yet it can also encompass the likes of local fisheries, beef ranchers, chicken farms and food processors.

Farm-to-School Resources

The National Farm-to-School Network and many state and local agencies offer resources that districts, child care centers, Head Start and ECFE programs can use during October to educate kids about the origins of their food and hard-working farmers and ranchers in our country. Find activities, single lessons or entire curriculum to use with students this year - or start thinking about how to expand your farm-to-school efforts for next year.

• Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom
• National Farm-to-School Network
• National Farm-to-School Network School Meals Journey
• University of Minnesota Extension Farm-to-School Portal
• USDA Farm-to-School (Community Food Systems)
• USDA Farm-to-School Planning Kit
• USDA Farm-to-School Resources

Great Lakes Apple Crunch: Thursday, October 13 at Noon

Back by popular demand! CKC is encouraging our schools and child care centers to participate in the Great Lakes Apple Crunch on Thursday, October 13 at noon. CKC will provide schools with regionally grown apples that day. At noon, participants from around the Midwest will simultaneously "crunch" their delicious apples for fun social media photos and videos.

REGISTER HERE!

Once you register, you'll have access to an Apple Crunch Guide to help you implement a successful event.

In 2020, 807,796 students, children, teachers, and good food supporters across the region crunched. This year, the goal is 1.2 MILLION CRUNCHES!

After the Crunch, post photos and videos to social media with hashtags: #F2SMonth, #MNAppleCrunch, #MNfarmtoschool.

Grant Opportunities

Check out these grant opportunities to support your plans for expanding farm-to-school efforts:

1. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has three farm-to-school grant programs (Apply by 4 p.m. CT, Thursday, November 17!)
   • Farm to School First Bite Mini Grant
   • Farm to School Full Tray Grant
   • Equipment grant to support First Bite or Full Tray Grant applicants
2. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Ag Literacy Grant (Apply by Tuesday, November 15!)
3. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom First Year Teacher Grant

Check out our profiles of these Farm-to-School suppliers:

• Honeybear Brands / Wescott Orchard
• Svihel Vegetable Farm
• Bushel Boys Farms
• Hastings Cooperative Creamery
• Hmong American Farmers Association