Your Farm to School Questions Answered

Have you ever been curious about buying produce locally but still have lots of questions? 

We talked with Sydney Turnipseed, Associate Director of the Mississippi Farm to School Network, to get some insight.

The Mississippi Farm to School Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is making connections between cafeteria, classroom, and the community—a winning combination.

Sydney’s enthusiasm about local procurement is contagious. We couldn’t wait to share what we learned from her about everything from the benefits of buying local produce, how to get started, and best practices of successful programs.

 

What are some of the key benefits for schools and their students when they buy from local farms? 

The benefits are many! Local food is fresher and more nutritious, food waste is reduced, meal costs can be lower, and participation higher. It’s fun for staff and kids due to experiential learning, like farmers coming in and speaking to students. Also, locally grown food has a cultural relevancy that can connect students to their heritage.

 

How do local farms benefit from farm to school programs?

Schools need to purchase produce, and they purchase a lot. Why shouldn’t that revenue be kept in their own state when possible? Local purchasing supports local farmers and the local economy. Farmers get personal satisfaction from being able to help schools, while keeping their businesses strong and building community awareness of their brands.

When is a good time to start a farm to school program?

Any time that’s right for you is a good time to start, but when you’re planning your menu is an especially good time.

How do you start planning a Farm to School Program?

Looking for simple food swaps that could be purchased locally is a great way to get started. 

The USDA DoD Fresh Program is a great source for locally grown produce. Mississippi butter beans, blueberries, and sweet potatoes, for example, are on the DoD fresh list.

 

How does the Mississippi Farm to School Network help child nutrition professionals interested in buying from local farms?

The Mississippi Farm to School Network helps schools connect with local farmers, plan menus, and market to their students and communities, along with coordinating special events like webinars, in-person training opportunities, the Farm to School Week Challenge, and providing a wealth of resources on our website. We’re also happy to provide a local food purchasing request for information (RFI) guidance sheet to make it easier to start cataloguing local foods available to your school district.

 

Tell us a little more about some of your special programs.

Farm to School Week Challenge

Every October, the first full week of the month, we host an annual Farm to School Week Challenge to encourage school districts and early childcare centers to integrate local foods and education into their programs. 

It’s a great opportunity to create excitement about local foods and farms by introducing local foods, bringing local farmers into school to talk with students, or even taking a field trip to visit a local farm. 

Schools that join the challenge get access to resources, materials, and prizes such as posters, stickers, and other items related to local procurement, plus opportunities for recognition.

Visit the Mississippi Farm to School Week Challenge page to learn more and to sign up.

 

Harvest of the Month Program

We also have the Harvest of the Month Program. Each month features a different, in-season Mississippi-grown fruit or vegetable and includes ready-to-use activities, recipes, book recommendations, lessons, and promotional materials. It’s easy to sign up on the website.

 

What recommendations do you have for finding local farmers? 

The Mississippi Farm Fresh Map is a resource designed to help you easily find fresh, locally grown food in Mississippi. It includes local farms, farmers markets, food hubs, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pickups. In the near future, this map will be more interactive to enable search for items available at a certain time.

 

What kitchen equipment should school districts consider when implementing a farm to school program? 

Cold storage is needed. Food processors, cutting boards, and cutlery (along with prep tables and sinks) are needed for prep. Equipment items such as tilt skillets and combi ovens are also needed for cooking.

 

Can you recommend best practices you’ve seen that have been key to successful farm to school program implementation? 

Yes! Marketing to students and community, sharing farmer photos, conducting taste tests of local foods, and awarding stickers for trying a new food are all ways of making your farm to school program successful with your students and community.

Communicating regularly to build a relationship and visiting their farm are ways to make your program a success with farmers.  

Get cafeteria staff excited and onboard by sharing plans and offering training. Some schools even have an assigned staff champion of their Farm to School program. These are great ways to make the program a success with staff and students.

 

Anything else you’d like child nutrition professionals to know?

A lot of resources are also available through the National Farm to School Network. You can get involved with trainings, webinars, and advocacy through them and your local network. You can also follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date.

 

To learn more, visit the Mississippi Farm to School website at www.MississippiFarmtoSchool.org.