The Virginia Farm-to-School program promotes opportunities for schools, distributors and growers to work together to increase the volume of locally grown foods served in school cafeterias and dining halls at all levels of education. Benefits include fresh and nutritious meal options for Virginia students, community interest in Virginia Grown products and increased market opportunities for farmers. Students learn about the seasonality of food products, the importance of supporting local agriculture and the benefits associated with reducing transportation costs and protecting farmland.
Virginia was one of the first states to establish a Farm-to-School taskforce in 2007. In 2009, the first Virginia Farm-to-School Week took place.
For information on Virginia’s Farm-to-School program or to connect with local school, farms or distribution resources, please contact the Office of Food Distribution at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Nutrition will be hosting regional Farm to School Network meetings across the Commonwealth in April and May 2019. The VDOE SNP Farm to School Specialist in collaboration with the regional Farm to School Network Leads will conduct the Farm to School Network meetings for school nutrition professionals, farmers, educators, community members, parents and students. The agenda, dates, and locations are available below.
Please register for the meeting you plan to attend. There is no cost to attend and no deadline for registration. The meetings will take place from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Trista Grigsby, Farm to School Specialist at trista.grigsby@doe.virginia.gov.
Dates and Locations:
- April 16: Maybeury Elementary School Garden, 901 Maybeury Drive, Richmond, VA 23229
- April 24: Waterman Elementary School, 451 Chicago Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
- May 7: Frederick Douglass Elementary School Garden, 510 Principal Drummond Way SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
- May 8: New Earth Farm, 1855 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
- May 13: Potomac Elementary School Garden, 16495 15th Street, King George, VA 22485
- May 14: Charlotte Farm Bureau, 400 George Washington Highway, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923
Tour of Randolph Henry High School Farm from 5:00-6:00 at 755 David Bruce Avenue, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923
Virginia Farm to School Week 2018 will be held during the week of October 1-5 to coincide with National Farm to School Month.
Contact
Seth Benton
Program Manager, Food Distribution
804.786.0532
seth.benton@vdacs.virginia.gov
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files.
