Between September 2016 and June 2020, 86 schools and 10 campuses participated in the Canada Digs In! initiative. Schools received grants of up to $10,000 to deliver farm to school salad bar programs. Students ate local and healthy food, participated in hands-on food literacy activities and connected with local food providers, growers, chefs, knowledge keepers, public...Read More

As September rolls around, the age-old concept of “back-to-school” just doesn’t have the same ring as past years.  According to a recently released United Nations policy brief, education as we know it will be fundamentally different, not just today but into the future.  Rather than going “back to school,“, we need different and forward-thinking approaches. One that is...Read More

US National Farm to School Network Movement Meeting Oct 14, 2020 01:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) How can we shift power in our communities to create a more just food system? What community capital – resources outside of money – can help us create radical change in the ways we grow, prepare and...Read More

George Brown College has released 2 new resources as a result of a 3-year partnership with Farm to Cafeteria Canada, Sustain Ontario and Ecosource:  A research paper entitled Generating Success for Farm to School, written by Gary Hoyer and Chinh Do. This paper explores the many benefits of the farm to school approach and illustrates...Read More

As a result of a 3-year partnership with Farm to Cafeteria Canada, Sustain Ontario, and Ecosource, Gary Hoyer at George Brown College has released Fresh & Local Farm to School: Snack Recipes, Student Workshops & Lab Manual, a summary of recipes and workshop materials that were created by faculty and students for use at workshops...Read More

Photo: British Columbians have responded with enthusiasm for local food during the public health crisis. Can we build on what we’ve learned, and make it stick? Photo: Jamil Rhajiak, UBC Farm. We asked: What has COVID-19 shown you about making our food system better? If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught all of us,...Read More

Photo by Alyson McPhee on Unsplash While COVID-19 calls for physical distancing, more than ever the world is socially connected, and a hot topic of conversation is food. The pandemic has ramped-up a growing movement in civil society to rediscover and reclaim food systems. Institutions like schools are front and centre because of the essential role they...Read More

This case study explores farm to campus activities at the University of Victoria, a participating campus in the Farm to School: Canada Digs In! initiative.  Read this case study if you’re interested in understanding how Meal Exchange’s Good Food Challenge can be applied to not only increase the amount of healthy, just and sustainably produced food on campuses but how doing...Read More

This report measures the reach of Oregon’s legislated farm-to-school grant program among school districts and children, particularly low income, and examines changes in local purchasineg, particularly fruit and vegetables, and the use of produce from school gardens in school meals.  Read the full article Authors: Kristen C. Giombi, RTI International Anupama Joshi, National Farm to...Read More

Forest Park Elementary School, St. Thomas, ON Total Student Enrollment: 400+ 2018-2019 (Grant Year 1) In 2018, Forest Park Elementary School partnered with Farm to Cafeteria Canada to provide a healthy and free salad bar weekly to all students. In an increasingly diverse socio-economic society, many students come to school without a healthy lunch. At...Read More