What is on Gallatin Valley Farm to School’s menu?
Upcoming events:
Check out our events page for the latest information, or look ahead at our calendar.
Our programs:
Procurement: increasing local food in school menus
Where Does Your Food Come From? student education program
What are the benefits of Farm to School?
Think of some of the problems that are widespread and well-known… health (obesity epidemic, diabetes, reduced lifespan), environmental (climate change, pollution, loss of habitat), and social (local economies collapsing, loss of farming communities)… and you can find a common thread–food. According to the National Farm to School Network, benefits of farm to school programs include:
- Strengthen children’s and communities’ knowledge about, and attitudes toward, agriculture, food, nutrition and the environment.
- Increase children’s participation in the school meals program and consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby improving childhood nutrition, reducing hunger, and preventing obesity and obesity-related diseases.
- Benefit school food budgets if planning and menu choices are made consistent with seasonal availability of fresh and minimally processed whole foods.
- Support economic development across numerous sectors and promote local job creation.
- Increase market opportunities for local farmers, fishers, ranchers, food processors and food manufacturers.
- Decrease the distance between producers and consumers, thus promoting food security while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and reliance on oil.
Get in the “lunch line” and learn more– get involved today!
