Schools

At the heart of the Farm to School movement is the connection between local farms and schools, providing students with fresh produce while also enriching their learning environments. These programs include three core components:

• Procurement: Local foods are sourced from nearby farms or food hubs, promoted, prepared, and served in school cafeterias, or used for snacks and taste-tests.
• Education: Students engage in activities that explore agriculture, food, nutrition, and health.
• School Gardens: Hands-on learning experiences allow students to grow their own food and connect with the agricultural process.

The impact of these activities is even greater when all three components are combined, as they create a full-circle approach that enhances students’ overall understanding of food systems.

 Get Involved

School nutrition programs across Oklahoma are increasingly embracing Farm to School initiatives to meet the growing demand for high-quality, nutritious foods, encourage healthy eating habits, and boost student participation in meal programs.

These initiatives are particularly valuable because they increase access to fresh, whole foods—many of which students may not have at home—leading to improvements in student health, public health outcomes (such as preventing obesity and diet-related diseases), and educational readiness (including better student behavior, focus, and academic performance).

Procurement

Incorporating local foods into the school food system requires a long-term, holistic approach that involves a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers, families, food service staff, students, school administrators, producers, and community members. Schools can implement various strategies to source and serve local foods in their cafeterias.

Check Out More Ways to Get Involved

Gant Opportunities

Grants and funding are crucial to the success of farm to school programs. Grants can fund the development of a school garden, cover the cost of new kitchen equipment, and even buy educational supplies to lead farm to school activities. Check out the grants using the link below for more information and eligibility.

Training Opportunities

Oklahoma Farm to School program offers training opportunities for schools looking to implement or expand their Farm to School initiatives. Click the link below to learn more about training opportunities.

Oklahoma MyPlate

One helpful tool to promote healthy eating is Oklahoma MyPlate, which serves as a simple, visual reminder to choose a variety of foods throughout the day. Oklahoma MyPlate encourages students to eat a balanced mix of foods from each group, making it easier to understand portion sizes and nutritional needs.