Farm to School
Recognizing the problems associated with childhood obesity and the search to open additional markets for fresh farm products in Virginia, the General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 347 (2007), which requested that the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and the Secretary of Education establish a Farm-to-School Task Force to develop a plan for implementing a Farm-to-School Program in the Commonwealth. SJR 347 also asked this panel to determine the best method of providing information to educational institutions.
To meet the requests of SJR 347, the Secretaries formed and convened a Task Force three times to study the issue and identify solutions to the challenges inherent in establishing a Farm-to-School program. Regarding methods for best communicating information on the availability of Virginia produce to schools, the panel recommended a dual approach. Senate Bill 797 required the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to establish a website to promote Virginia products to educational institutions. The Task Force believes improving this website will best serve as a means for communication on Virginia’s Farm-to-School Program. In addition to the VDACS website, the communication infrastructure currently present in the Department of Education will prove vital in linking all K-12 school districts with resources as this program develops.
Farm-to-School is about creating connections between growers, distributors and educational institutions. Through these connections, children and their parents can also be reached.
View the Farm-to-School report.