Building bridges between the cafeteria and the classroom
DC Greens is the D.C. state lead for the National Farm to School Network.
Our work: DC Greens’ farm to school programming educates and connects D.C. schoolchildren with the sources of their food by creating experiential learning opportunities such as chef demonstrations, farmer visits, and taste tests. These educational activities make healthy, local produce familiar to students so that they are eager to try new fruits and vegetables when they appear in the cafeteria. Through strong partnerships we provide resources for educators, food service programs, and farm field trip sites.
Our Principles:
+ We support experiential education that complements access to local foods in school cafeterias – such as school gardens, chef demonstrations and farm visits – so that students can form a lasting understanding of, appreciation for, and connection to healthy foods and their origins.
+ We organize around a spirit of collaboration, inclusion and respect, as creating change in the school food system will take a diverse coalition of community partners.
+ We support farm to school programs across the entire District of Columbia – in its public, charter and private schools.
Organization: The National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is a nationwide organization that helps local farm to school programs grow. NSFN designates lead organizations in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. DC Greens is the lead agency for D.C. As the D.C. lead, DC Greens orchestrates F2S programming throughout the District as well as collaborates with countless non-profit and for-profit organizations, government agencies, individuals, and coalitions. Our F2S work is guided by an Advisory Board of key farm to school stakeholders in the District.
History: DC Farm to School (DCF2S) began in 2009 under the leadership of Andrea Northup. First housed at Capital Area Food Bank, DCF2S began coalition building and hosted a Local Flavor Week to celebrate fresh, seasonal foods in District schools. In the Spring of 2010 DCF2S transitioned to Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, during which time Local Flavor Week became an annual, Fall event: DC Farm to School Week. DCF2S also launched Strawberries & Salad Greens Day to highlight local produce at the start of the harvest season in May.
Since July 2012, DC Greens has been the nonprofit home of DC Farm to School. In the Fall of 2012, DC Greens hosted Growing Healthy Schools Week (a fusion of DC School Garden Week and DC Farm to School Week) in collaboration with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
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