This fact sheet offers a research-based overview of the benefits of farm to school and provides a list of sources.  Stated benefits are provided under 5 themes:  (1) Economic Development (Job Creation and Economic Activity; Farmer and Producer Income), (2) Public Health (Student Nutrition Behaviors; Knowledge, Attitudes and Access), (3) Education (Student Engagement and Academic...Read More

National Farm to School Network & Colorado State University | September 29, 2017 Farm to school offers cross-sectoral benefits for children, farmers and communities, however, limited data is available to truly understand the economic impacts of farm to school procurement. Using a survey and case study approach, this report (a collaborative project of the National Farm to...Read More

Unanimous support from the Oregon House, Senate and governor has passed a bill that supports local food in schools. House Bill 2038 allocates $4.5 million for schools to continue to buy Oregon-grown and processed foods and to support agriculture- and garden-based education. With 144 school districts participating in the program, here are some ways this...Read More

Indigenous cultures and identities are closely connected to the lands and waters where traditional foods are obtained. Harvesting, preparing and sharing traditional foods are important practices of Indigenous cultures, and traditional foods are part of a healthy diet. The Population and Public Health program, BC Centre for Disease Control, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and...Read More

Visualizing the Future for Health Care For three years, Project SOIL has used case studies, pilot projects and visioning sessions to investigate the viability of on-site food production at public institutions, through collaborative arrangements with local food producers. Over that time, interest in food production on public land has continued to grow, with schools and universities,...Read More

Local Food, Social Procurement and Grow-to-Order Contracts with Publicly Funded Institutions By Sandra Hamilton Project Lead, FEED Comox Valley at North Island College A vision to increase supply of local food in public institutions is behind the Food, Environment and Economic Development (FEED) Comox Valley project, one of eight national initiatives funded by The J.W....Read More

A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems The evidence in favour of a major transformation of our food systems is now overwhelming. Many influential studies have helped shape our understanding of the perilous situation our food systems are in, from the degradation of ecosystems to the fragility of farmer livelihoods in many...Read More

At institutions throughout New England, dining staff are beginning to look to the sea as another source for local foods. Institutions from across health care, colleges & universities, and K-12 school systems are incorporating locally caught seafood into their meals for a variety of reasons and through a variety of procurement models. FINE set out...Read More

The Farm to School Salad Bar is a new and innovative initiative in British Columbia (BC) designed to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables amongst students and raise awareness of the health benefits of doing so. Although the concept of farm to school appears simple, it has multiple planning-related objectives including adopting a comprehensive...Read More

Schools, post-secondary, healthcare institutions and Crown corporations collectively purchase millions of dollars’ worth of food annually, yet little is known around how much local food has been purchased. At the same time, their large purchasing power and role as public facilities put institutions in a unique position to be positive drivers for growing our local...Read More