Top Stories

Bringing the farm to schools

Cornell program makes sure kids get their fruits a

Jun 18, 2019

By Isabel Braverman

You've heard of farm to table, but now there's farm to school. A program run by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC) allows local schools to offer healthy choices in cafeterias, as well as a host of other educational programs.
CCESC Healthy Schools Program Coordinator SueAnn Boyd said she works with the Liberty, Monticello and Fallsburg school districts as well as Sullivan County BOCES. The goal, Boyd says, is to increase the consumption of local fruits and vegetables.
Now in its fourth year, Farm to School is a part of the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program. In collaboration with Sullivan Renaissance, they offer six farm to school initiatives: the edible garden project, New York agriculture in the classroom, chef in the classroom, lunchroom salad bars, taste test Thursdays and farm field trips.
Through these initiatives students are empowered to learn to make better food choices, develop lifelong healthy habits and discover where their food comes from. And it's all about education. Boyd said, “Kids don't always know where their food comes from. They're more receptive to eating it once they have grown and cooked it themselves.”
In the edible garden project students get to plant, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables that enhance the taste and value of their lunch experience. And the chef in the classroom is a hands-on program where kids learn healthy cooking techniques for incorporating fresh ingredients into daily meals.
“They're getting an education and bringing it home to their family,” Boyd remarked. “They have a life skill now.” And it's a skill that could potentially blossom into a career. Agriculture is the second largest industry in Sullivan County, with an annual economic impact exceeding $120 million.
Farm to school programs mean raising a generation of youth who understand the importance of buying locally grown produce.

In The News

• North Branch Post Office open for business
• Town elections are largely uncontested
• Biden takes NY; Delgado, Galligan, Martucci and Miller hold leads
• Municipalities adjust amidst state budget uncertainties
• Voter turnout high across the country

---