The School Food Service (SFS) Department continued to promote the farm to school efforts throughout the 2013-2014 school year. Each quarter, we worked with awarded vendors and the Purchasing Department to obtain quotes to ensure fresh produce was offered through the district menus. A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to include corn cobbettes, green beans, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, squash & zucchini and carrot/green bean medley were served. At the start of the school year, each school received a set of 10 vibrantly colored fruit and vegetable posters. The posters were hung inside the serving line and included fun facts on the fruit/vegetable, promoted MyPlate and educated students on where in the State of Florida the produce is grown. A monthly schedule was created to align with the growing season and ensured consistency throughout the district.

During the week of November 18, 2013, the SFS Department supported Florida Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Week. We were able to coordinate visits from local farmers at three elementary schools. On Tuesday, November 19, 2013, Bedner Farms visited West Gate Elementary Afterschool Program and Pero Family Farms visited S.D. Spady Elementary Afterschool Program. Friday, November 22, 2013, Localecopia and a local honey farmer visited Galaxy Elementary (K-2 students). In addition, Farm to School Week was promoted on the November lunch menu.

In the first week of February, we drafted a press release to announce the return of Florida grown strawberries. More than 8,200 pounds of strawberries were purchased in the first order which equaled more than 40,000 student servings. During the same week, we coordinated a visit with the Palm Beach Post at Jupiter Elementary to capture the strawberry offerings and highlight our Farm to School initiative.



The SFS Department also participated in numerous local events to promote Farm to School in addition to supporting the school-based efforts. On November 13, 2013, we attended the Localecopia Meet & Greet to network with local organizations who support the community with locally grown and manufactured products. On January 27, 2014, we participated in a University of Florida Farm to School research interview. We also presented our Farm to School program at the Palm Beach Hunger Relief and Food Security sponsored by the Palm Beach County Food Bank and the Health Care District's School Health Advisory Council.