Farm to school programming provides the consistent demand needed to sustain local small farmers who take pride in benefitting student health and the local economy.
“Small farmers need to adapt to survive!” said fifth-generation farmer Anna Knight of Old Grove Orange. “We’ve done everything from farmers’ markets to community supported agriculture, but for the last 20-plus years, 100% of the produce we grow has gone directly to local K-12 public school districts. We wouldn’t be here without the visionary nutrition services programs of Greater L.A., and these partnerships are how we keep farming forever!”
Old Grove Orange is a family farm stewarding 81 acres in Redlands, California. Over the last 21 years, Old Grove Orange and the 30 farm families contributing to its food hub have worked with 50+ school districts in the Greater Los Angeles area. Their thoughtful approach to farm to school provides students with experiential education programs that connect them to the land, the farmers and the products served in their school meals.
As a three-time grant recipient of the CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, Old Grove Orange has increased its production of minimally processed seasonal vegetable products designed specifically for the school market. School districts can often find it challenging to cook whole vegetables due to staff or equipment capacity; therefore, Old Grove Orange’s pre-cut, portioned and packaged produce allows for an easier adoption of local products into school meals.
Click here to learn more about Old Grove Orange.
Click here to view this original post on CDFA’s Planting Seeds blog.