Public Invited to “Farm to School Forum” Saturday, April 2 at Greenfield Middle School

Family Farm
Painting by Lillian Fraser Douville

The public is invited to participate in a “Farm to School Forum” on Saturday, April 2 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA.  The forum will explore the use of local farm products in schools and institutions.  Along with offering high quality, nutritious food to school children, the Farm to School initiative helps expand local land-based economies.

The April 2nd “Farm to School Forum” is sponsored by the Franklin County School Committee Caucus. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge.  Our Family Farms is donating free milk for the event.

Deb and Rick at Seeds of Solidarity

Kelly Erwin, program director for the Massachusetts Farm to School Program will provide an overview of what’s happening statewide and in school districts throughout Franklin County.  Panel discussions will focus on success stories as well as obstacles facing food providers due to state and federal regulations along with the new land-based economy that is emerging.  Farmers will be joined by food processors and distributors who will discuss systems and businesses being created to serve school and institutional needs.

Deb Habib of Seeds of Solidarity in Orange will facilitate a conversation about how existing School District Wellness Plans can be used or invigorated to support farm to school, and will also address approaches such as curriculum integration and school gardens that support farm to school efforts.

For further information, contact Farm to School Forum organizer, Genevieve Fraser at (978) 544-1872, email:FraserGenevieve@gmail.com or contact Marcia Day, chair of the Franklin County School Committee Caucus at email: marciaday@comcast.net

Franklin County “Farm to School Forum” Saturday, April 2 at Greenfield Middle School

Franklin County “Farm to School Forum”

Saturday, April 2 at Greenfield Middle School

A consensus is building that eating locally grown food is good for local economies and good for a community’s overall health and well being. Many would like to see quality, local produce served as part of a school’s breakfast and lunch program. According to proponents, if New England schools bought just 5 percent local foods, it could boost the region’s agriculture economy by $7.5 million.

So what is being done to achieve this goal in Franklin County? The public is invited to participate in a “Farm to School Forum” on Saturday, April 2 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA. The forum will explore what is currently happening in area school districts, the obstacles to utilizing local foods, and the systems that need to be developed to integrate local farm products into our schools and institutions. The forum is sponsored by the Franklin County School Committee Caucus.

According to Kelly Erwin, Farm to School program director for Massachusetts, “From kindergarten to college, interest in serving locally grown foods in cafeterias is increasing in Massachusetts and throughout the northeast U.S.”

“Feeding locally grown foods to students can be a good way for food service directors to improve the nutritional value and taste of school meals, while supporting the local economy,” Erwin stated.

For further information, contact Marcia Day, chair of the Franklin County School Committee Caucus at email: marciaday@comcast.net; or contact the Farm to School Forum organizer, Genevieve Fraser at (978) 544-1872, or email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com. Refreshments will be served.