Their School program led her to carve out space in her districts have been recipients of MN Department budget to create the Farm to School Coordinator of Agriculture (MDA) Farm to School Full Tray and position and hire Haag, a former farmer excited to Kitchen Equipment Grants between 2020 and 2023, connect farmers with new distribution methods. [...] ■ Sharing stories and information about local foods and the farmers who grew them with the country take our Farm to School Program from school staff to create buy in, so staff can be zero to 60 in three very quick years.” Farm to School ambassadors for kids As the districts’ Farm to School program has grown, ■ Consulting with the nutrition director to design they have found new ways to welcome abu. [...] a seasonal menu that reflects the specific With the help of MDA’s Farm to School kitchen equip- abundance of farmers nearby ment grants, they have purchased industrial food processors, better oven technology and vacuum ■ Plugging into statewide Farm to School and sealers to support preparing fresh items from the Harvest of the Month networks for support farm and preserving produce at the height of. [...] Lesli notes, systems are all about and that’s what “That being said, we also don’t turn away the feeding our kids good food is all about.” abundance that comes year to year, so commu- nicate with us and we are glad to work with you to figure out something we can prepare and put Lesli and Aimee’s tips for farmers considering on the menu.” selling to schools: ■ Students love to see outsiders in the. [...] appreciate that they know that the bounty comes during the summer, and they make good use of that What advice would you give to other farmers inter- so that we don’t just have to wait until September ested in selling to schools? and October to sell produce to them.
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