Communities Marking Farm To School Month In Oregon
Whether large or small, communities across Oregon are celebrating October as Farm To School Month. And organizers say the month serves as an opportunity to teach about how local foods can create powerful connections. The month-long event is highlighted by the annual crunch event on October 17th, where students will crunch away on apples, carrots or other crunchy produce grown in Oregon.
“We have close to 40,000 students and young children lined up to crunch into a local fruit or vegetable," noted Melina Barker, Director Of the Oregon Farm To School Network. "At the same time on October 17th to sort of celebrate, farm to school and connections with where their food comes from and local agriculture."
And she noted children will be learning a lot more than just what’s fresh and crunchy.
“Sometimes they'll even have the opportunity to meet the farmer who produce that food. Maybe sometimes it comes from their school garden that they've been working in this fall, so lots of educational activities that are a really great fit for the pharmacy school crunch," Barker said.
Learn more about Oregon Farm to school month by visiting Oregon Farm School's Website.
If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com