A community food system is one in which food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are geographically integrated and benefit the environment, economy, and social and nutritional health of a particular community.
OCFS seeks to increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, promote hands-on learning activities such as gardening, farm visits, and culinary classes, and encourage the integration of food related education into regular, standards-based curriculum to help children make lifelong healthy eating choices.
This fact sheet presents effective strategies for supporting community food systems.
The sub-grants will support collaborative projects between school districts, food producers, suppliers, distributors, and/or community partners to stimulate the creation of a resilient, equitable, and nutritious school food system.
This fact sheet reviews school farms spanning acres in Minnesota, indoor tower gardens in Vermont, raised beds in New York City, aquaponic systems in the Virgin Islands, and native food gardens in tribal communities.
Increasing access to local foods in schools is a top priority for the Office of Community Food Systems. This fact sheet, available in both English and Spanish, reviews the top 10 facts about local food in schools.