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Farm to School



In This Section Section Home Free Food Boxes for Children Alimentos para los niños durante el cierre escolar Cunnada carruurta inta ay xiran tahay Cov menyuam cov zaub mov thaum lub sijhawm kaw Our Food Menus Recipes Minnesota Thursdays Special Dietary Needs Nutrition + Ingredients Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Smart Snacks Great Lakes Apple Crunch Vending Vending FAQ Application + Payments Application for Educational Benefits Application & Payment FAQ Payments Prices Our Programs Farm to School Farms Local Foods Community BBQ Toolkit Farm Videos School Gardens Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Waste Reduction Summer Program True Food True Food Chef Council True Food Taste Tests True Food Backgrounds Junior Iron Chef Education Videos Wellness Active School Day Active Recess Healthy Eating Smart Snacks in School Rethink Your Drink Healthy Celebrations & Rewards Safe Routes to School Program Summary Arrival and Dismissal Biking Education Bus Stop & Walk Maps Pedestrian Education Safe Routes Network Travel Plans Walk and Bike to School Events Walking Bus 2014 Highlight Email news Winter Cycling Congress MPS Teacher Resources WBF Let's Roll MPS Wellness Policy Sports Nutrition Urban Education Farm Feasibility Study Home Wellness Resources Catering & Food Trucks Vended Meals Contact Contact Us Employment + Internships Staff Directory CWS Staff Search	Farm to School Culinary & Wellness Services > Our Programs > Farm to School Farm to School MPS Farm to School Program Since 2013, Minneapolis Public Schools has partnered with local farms to buy fresh, healthy foods for our students. Our Farm to School Program is a WIN-WIN-WIN! We support our neighboring farmers, provide our kids with fresh and flavorful food, and contribute to our local economy. We currently partner with 13 small to medium sized farms and farmer cooperatives to source nearly 40 varieties of produce for our school meals. Our partner farms are located within 250 miles of the Twin Cities and use sustainable or certified organic practices. Our district's Farm to School Program has three main components: Local Food MPS works directly with local farms to sources as much fresh produce as possible! We also make it a priority to buy other local products like meats, salsas, and baked goods. We distinguish our different levels of local purchasing by: Farm to School - produce grown by small and mid-sized farmers using sustainable growing methods, typically within 100 miles of the Twin Cities; and Local - produce, meat, and other food items grown or produced within 250 miles of the Twin Cities. Food Education We work with partners to provide hands-on opportunities for students to learn about food, nutrition and agriculture. We host special events and promotions like Minnesota Thursdays, conduct taste tests of fresh and flavorful new items, bring our farmer partners into school classrooms and cafeterias, support school gardens, and host student groups at our MPS Education Farm to engage students in hands-on learning. Community Engagement We partner with nonprofit organizations, businesses, families and community members to assure that our Farm to School Program is rooted in the community. We highlight exciting happenings in our biweekly e-newsletter—The Whole Carrot, partner with organization and community members on special events such as our annual Farm to School Community BBQ, attend and present at conferences and events, and participate in local and national coalitions like Homegrown Minneapolis Food Counciland the National Farm to School Network. MPS Culinary & Wellness Services prides itself on working closely with both local and national farm to school partners. If you are interested in working with us, please contact Kate Seybold, Farm to School Coordinator.		More Information Farms Local Foods Community BBQ Toolkit Farm Videos School Gardens 2018-2019 Farm to School Highlights 13 F2S partner farms and farm co-ops 142,470 pounds of Farm to School (F2S) produce served 42 specific varieites of local vegetables and fruits 48,833 pounds of additional local produce (not grown by F2S partner farms) Farm to School Education Resources Farm to School creates opportunities for students to eat and learn about healthy, local foods! USDA Dig In! Lessons: Ten interactive lessons for 5th-6th graders focusing on growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about a variety of fruits and vegetables. MN Ag in the Classroom Kits: Free classroom lesson kits offered on a monthly basis. These kits are available for all grade levels, focus on Minnesota agriculture, and meet Minnesota state standards. MN Ag in the Classroom Teacher Tours: Tours available throughout the summer for teachers to visit farms and gardens, gain resources, and ideas for interactive ways to bring agriculture into the classroom. Growing Minds Farm to School Resources: Lesson plans and recipes searchable by grade level and topic, ranging from cooking to gardening to soil health. Edible Schoolyard Project Resource Library: Search for lesson plans for garden, lunchroom, kitchen, and indoor classroom settings, available for all grade levels. Farm to School Leadership Curriculum: A guide and six lesson plans aimed at helping high school students learn about local food systems with interactive classroom activities, while strengthening their Farm to School program.