Newark, MD, October 18, 2023 – Today, students at Buckingham Elementary School met a local farmer and received nutrition lessons before sampling fresh kale from Cross Farms as part of Worcester County Public Schools’ celebration of National Farm to School Month.
In 2010, Congress declared October National Farm to School month in recognition of the important role farm to school plays in promoting well-being among children and building strong local economies. Farm to School helps to cultivate the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food, and local food producers. It is important for students to have a greater understanding of where their food comes from and how agriculture has an impact on their health. Farm to School empowers children and their families to make informed food choices which leads to a healthier community.
As part of this celebration, Buckingham Elementary School welcomed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) educator Caitlin Daw and local farmer Carol Cross to school to provide lessons in nutrition and host a school-wide taste test of local produce.
Daw impressed upon the students the importance of making healthy meal choices now to build a healthy lifestyle that can last through their entire lives. Using tools like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate, students learn how balanced meals can keep their bodies fit and ready for activity like sports and play.
Cross, who owns and operates Cross Farms in Berlin, Maryland, brought kale from her farm to hold a schoolwide taste test of a delicious sweet potato and kale salad. Worcester County Public Schools has recently incorporated Cross Farms’ naturally grown produce into school breakfasts and lunches. This collaboration helps students gain access to healthy foods, as well as strengthens the local economy.
“Giving students the opportunity to taste nutritious foods in school at an early age is vital to establishing a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle,” said Coordinator of Food Service Odtis Collins. “We’re grateful to both Cross Farms and the SNAP-Ed program for enabling us to bring such a wonderful experience to the children of Buckingham Elementary.”
Funding for this program was from the Local Food for Schools grant.