The beautiful Comox Valley, is situated on the East Coast of Vancouver Island on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Farm to school programs and the salad bar model were first introduced in the area in 2012 at Huband Park Elementary School. Inspired by Huband’s success, École Robb Road Elementary and Lake Trail Community...Read More
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
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
Agnes L Mathers Elementary School, Sandspit, BC 2018-2019 (Grant Year 2) Agnes L Mathers Elementary School is in Sandspit British Columbia on Moresby Island, and is part of the archipelago called Haida Gwaii situated off the west coast of British Columbia. Our small student population enables students and teachers to spend lots of...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
In Quebec, the buzz surrounding local food is growing, not only among citizens and institutions, but also within the provincial government. The province has been promoting healthy, local and sustainable food in public institutions for several years. In 2018, nine Quebec schools received grants of up to $10,000 as part of the Farm to...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
