Building a Model Farm to School Program using Community Partnerships

Building a Model Farm to School Program using Community Partnerships

Summary

The University of Arkansas and Fayetteville Public Schools is proposing to develop a successful Farm to School (F2S) model program in Fayetteville, Arkansas through community partnerships with Apple Seeds Inc., a local non-profit focusing on nutrition education, FeedFayetteville, a local non-profit dedicated to increasing of and alleviating hunger through local resources, and KUAF, the local NPR radio affiliate. The project will identify obstacles to F2S in Northwest Arkansas, identify growers to produce for FPS and deliver nutrition education to FPS students with classroom activities and field trips to the local farmers’ market and a local farm. Community outreach will occur through press releases, newspaper stories, a series of stories on KUAF’s Ozarks at Large program, partner newsletters, websites and Facebook sites. In addition, local and state schools will be reached through a workshop to extend project outcomes and provide direction on how schools can implement a F2S at their schools.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• 1)Procure locally grown produce for the Fayetteville Public Schools by identifying growers in NWA interested in producing for F2S, identifying produce items that can be supplied to meet the school’s needs and assist growers in developing a plan to address production, handling, food safety, delivery and logistical, and economic associated with identified produce.

  2)Deliver a comprehensive nutrition education program with classroom interactions, farmer visits to the classroom and field trips to the farmers’ market and a local farm.

  3)Identify challenges and solutions associated with establishing a farm to school program in NWA.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Funding was received Dec 21, 2011. Initial emails were sent out to all project participants informing them of the award and making plans for a meeting in January.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

• Since the grant was received in Dec, there was not enough time in 2011 to make significant impact.