Farm to School Programs

The Farm to School Initiative is a growing movement that aims to integrate agriculture into schools, organizations, and the community. Farm to School programs include the procurement of local fresh foods for school lunches, providing hands-on learning experiences for students, and the incorporation of nutrition and ag education at all levels of learning.

In the Imperial Valley, the Farm to School movement has the unique potential to create a greater sense of connection and pride in our community as well as connect underserved populations with high quality, fresh, and nutritious food. The field of agriculture is a dominant industry in our county, yet many of the people within the area do not always have access to healthy foods or the knowledge to understand where food comes from and make informed decisions. With the USDA-NIFA Farm to School grant, Farm Smart and UC CalFresh Healthy Living Imperial Valley were able to make positive steps toward promoting agricultural and environmental literacy, and connecting stakeholders to advance change.

Here you can find major highlights of our USDA-NIFA Farm to School Initiative

Other links and resources