For Immediate Release: September 29, 2023
Contact: communications@doe.virginia.gov
RICHMOND — Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons is encouraging schools and communities across the commonwealth to celebrate Virginia Farm to School Week, October 2–6. Virginia farm to school programs connect students with locally grown food in cafeterias, preschools, and summer feeding programs while enhancing educational opportunities in school gardens, student farms and land labs, classrooms, and cafeterias.
During Virginia Farm to School Week, Virginians will make some noise for local farm to school programs on Thursday, October 5, by celebrating the seventh annual “Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth.” The statewide campaign features Virginians taking a bite out of a Virginia grown apple and sharing their celebrations using the hashtags #VACrunch and #VAFarmtoSchool.
"School divisions are implementing farm to school strategies that include local procurement, school gardens, farm visits, and cooking demonstrations,” Coons said. “Virginia students are enjoying fresh locally grown foods while learning about good nutrition and the importance of family farming and agriculture to our communities and the commonwealth. Supporting student health and Virginia’s agriculture economy is a win-win."
“I will certainly be participating in the Crunch Heard Round the Commonwealth, as it helps to increase awareness of the Virginia Farm to School program. Farm to School activities promote the importance of local agriculture, improve student nutrition and health, and raise public awareness of food and farming," said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie.
"School divisions throughout Virginia continue to enhance the quality of meals served by including more scratch-cooked and locally procured food items on the lunch line. Virginia Farm to School programs increase access to fresh, healthy, Virginia Grown food while providing hands-on learning opportunities for students and strengthening the connection between school communities and local growers and producers," said VDOE School Nutrition Director Sandy Curwood.
According to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 125 school divisions in the commonwealth have active Farm to School programs.
Additional information about celebrating Virginia Farm to School Week and the Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth, including accessing the free digital promotional materials, is available on the VDOE website.
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