Posted by Casey Williams on December 10th, 2008

I attended a great conference today called “Cultivating Virginia’s Farm to School Program: A Conference for Farmers, School Nutrition Directors and Interested Citizens” at The University of Virginia Darden School of Business.  The conference explored how to more effectively link schools, farming and food systems together to improve the economic viability of agriculture and health and nutrition of students in Virginia.  The National Farm to School Network (http://www.farmtoschool.org/) presented several potential model farm to school programs for this area.

The National Farm to School Network strives to bring healthy food from local farms to school children all across the country.  While there seems to be a sufficient demand for and supply of local food in the Charlottesville – Albemarle County area, the lack of distribution providers, processing facilities and affordability, especially in this time of budget cuts, pose the greatest obstacles.  If we work to resolve these challenges, the use of local produce in school meals and educational activities can provide a new direct market for farmers in the area and mitigates environmental impacts of transporting food long distances.  

The Baldwin Center for Preservation Development at Bundoran Farm hopes to play a role in supporting local Farm to School related programs that extend beyond farm fresh salad bars and local foods in the cafeteria to include experiential education opportunities such as farm tours, planting gardens, water quality sampling, cooking demonstrations and waste management programs like composting.  Activities and programs like this will help children understand where their food comes from and how their food choices impact their bodies, the environment and their communities at large.

Filed under: Agriculture, Education and Inspiration, General