The Kohala Center recently received a federal Farm to School grant to support the increase of locally produced foods for Hawaii schools and to increase support for school gardens and farms statewide through curriculum development that connects core standards with garden-based education.
“Every year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards the Farm to School grants to help schools connect with local producers and teach children where their food comes from,” said Deborah Kane, National Director of the USDA Farm to School Program. “These funds support the efforts of the Kohala Center to strengthen the capacity and impact of the Hawaii Farm to School and School Garden Hui (HFSSGH), a statewide network of farm to school stakeholders.”
Currently 60 schools statewide participate in a morning snack program. The grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) will support programs to expand the number of schools participating in the FFVP program and increase the program’s purchasing of locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as to build relationships between school purchasers, local distributors and farmers.
The grant also addresses development of initiatives to incorporate food, nutrition, and agricultural education into K–8 school curricula.
Additionally it supports efforts to build coalitions that strengthen the capacity and impact of HFSSGH to advocate for and implement both procurement and curriculum development.
“Across the nation there is a movement to increase local or regionally produced foods in school cafeterias,” said Chris Kanazawa, state director of the USDA Rural Development Hawaii office. “The USDA Farm to School program emphasizes food, farming, and nutrition, and integrates principles of healthy eating habits through school cafeteria offerings, hands-on learning activities such as school gardening, farm visits, culinary classes, and the support of the local agriculture economies.
via Federal grant supports Hawaii Farm to School programs | Hawaii 24/7.