The School Food Service (SFS) Department continues to grow the Farm to School program efforts throughout the school year. The Florida growing season aligns so well with the school year, and Palm Beach County is large producer of crops that sustain the entire country during the winter month. The Department has been able to work closely with RC Hatton Farms, Pero Family Farms and Localecopia to bring fresh locally grown produce to students’ plates.

Each quarter, the SFS Department and the District’s Purchasing Department work together to obtain quotes from the approved vendors to ensure fresh produce is offered through the District menus. The Farm to School produce is highlighted as “Fresh from the Farm” and includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Throughout the school year, students were offered corn cobbettes, green beans, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, squash and zucchini mix, and carrot/green bean medley.

On October 9, 2014 the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) hosted its first Farm to School Workshop in Palm Beach County at Pine Jog Elementary. Allison Monbleau, Director of School Food Service and Jamie McCarthy, Nutrition Services Specialist with School Food Service presented on the Farm to School successes in Palm Beach County. In addition to the Farm to School workshop, the Department also participated in the USDA Farm to School census which was a comprehensive questionnaire. The census focused on how many school food authorities were purchasing locally produced food for school meal programs or conducting other farm to school activities such as bringing students to farms and farmers into classrooms, teaching students how to cook locally grown food, and cultivating edible school gardens.

Each school has a set of 10 vibrantly colored fruit and vegetable posters that are hung inside the serving line. The posters are a way to educate students about Florida grown produce and promote MyPlate. A monthly poster schedule is created to align with the growing season and lesson plans are made available for teachers and staff. This year, we aligned with the Harvest of the Month program designed by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Food Nutrition & Wellness Division. The resources made available through this program are age-appropriate and practical for inclusion in the classroom.

Sample Lesson Plans and Link Provided Below:

Harvest of the Month Program: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions- Offices/Food-Nutrition-and-Wellness/Administering-Your-Nutrition-Program/Farm-to- School/Harvest-of-the-Month2