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MDA Unveils State’s First Farm to Kids Strategic Plan

October is Farm to School and Early Care Month, a time to celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, locally sourced foods from Minnesota’s producers.

In recognition of this month, today the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) unveiled the state’s first-ever Farm to Kids Strategic Plan. Developed collaboratively by Farm to School and Early Care partners across Minnesota, this plan is a 5-year roadmap for advancing local procurement and agricultural education in K-12 schools and early care settings.

Using insights collected from robust stakeholder engagement with producers, school food service professionals, educators, early care providers, youth, and other members of the public, the Farm to Kids Strategic Plan outlines specific goals, strategies, and actions for future Farm to School and Early Care efforts. The high-level priorities of the plan include:

  • Increase purchases of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods by schools and early care settings.
  • Improve integration of food and agricultural education in classrooms, cafeterias, and other educational environments.
  • Build and activate a strong Farm to Kids network to foster shared, collaborative leadership among Farm to School and Early Care partners.

“For over a decade, state agencies, institutions, and organizations have been working together to support and expand participation in Farm to School and Early Care programs within Minnesota,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We thank all partners — including producers, school staff, and early care providers — for successfully bringing more local foods to students, and we look forward to further progress thanks to the steps outlined in the new Farm to Kids Strategic Plan.”

Read more on the MDA website: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/mda-unveils-states-first-farm-kids-strategic-plan-0

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