Farm to School program plants seeds of healthy eating in kids

Farm to School program changes kids’ views on food

SHARON, Vt. — The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary School in Vermont know where the veggies in their soup come from.

They’ve visited the farms. They also know something about how the carrots, onions and cabbage are grown and their nutritional value. They’ve studied it in class and grown their own in school gardens.

The school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition, and supporting local farmers.

About 40 states have Farm-to-School programs, but Vermont is a leader in incorporating all three missions.

What started as a handful of pilot schools has grown to about 60 schools participating in the Farm-to-School program in Vermont.