WSDA Blog

This school year, when Washington students bite into crisp apples and crunch carrots served at their school cafeteria, there's a good chance it was grown just a few miles away by local farmers. More small farms are participating in farm to school programs, providing fresh, nutritious meals to students. Farm to school initiatives not only support local agriculture but also fuel students' learning and growth. 

To get a firsthand look at how the program functions and explore available food options, food service directors, school nutrition employees, and representatives from WSDA, SNAP-Ed, OSPI, and Educational Service District 101 visited Casa Cano Farms in Valleyford, WA.
     
This visit was part of the Washington School Nutrition Association’s annual summer conference, designed to excite attendees about local food and foster valuable connections to help implement these fresh, local options in their own school districts. The tour showcased a promising partnership model that is making farm to school possible for more school districts in the state.

ESD 101 Farm to School Program hosted this year’s Field to Flavor tour with support from WSDA Farm to School. The Tour highlighted ESD 101’s unique and innovative regional farm to school model that builds partnerships with small farms, rural school districts, and regional distributors to expand and deepen farm to school connections across Washington. The ESD 101 Regional Farm to School Coordinator model is currently funded with a USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Grant (Farm to Institution Track). WSDA Farm to School is a partner on the project, contributing matching funds that support farm to school coordinators at several ESD’s around the state. USDA SNAP-Ed also contributes funding to support the regional model.

Tracing the path of food: Bridging the gap between local farms and school cafeterias

The visit began with a tour of the 62-acre farm led by Madyson Versteeg and her husband Jorge Cano McConnell, who actively participate in the ESD 101 Regional Farm to School program. School nutrition staff observed climbing vines of cucumbers alongside basil in the greenhouse. Purple and green bell peppers and tomatoes were next!
 
For Madyson and Jorge, feeding their community has always been a dream. Since they started working with the ESD 101 Regional Farm to School Program two years ago, they’ve managed to provide food to ten schools across Washington state. With two young children of their own, they were determined to create a farm that serves both as a working operation and also serves as a learning space where kids can explore where their food comes from and ponder bigger questions.
 
“When we were in school, it was mostly cookies, pizza from a major chain, and a lot of junk food.” Jorge said. “Nowadays, schools are moving away from that approach and have guidelines for healthier food options. Adding nutrient-dense, local foods on top of these improvements is like the icing on the cake.”

This trend is helped by WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grants that can boost school districts’ budgets for purchasing from local farms.

Walking a short distance, school nutrition employees pet red and black Berkshire pigs, which could potentially supply fresh meat to local schools. Madyson explained that she sends a spreadsheet to the ESD 101 Farm to School Coordinator listing available foods, which they distribute to school districts. ESD 101 has partnered with LINC (Local Inland Northwest Cooperative), Rural Resources Community Action, and Catholic Charities of Eastern WA to distribute produce to rural school districts as far south as Whitman County to as far north as Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. Some farms even deliver directly to schools! Madyson maintains a variety of meats, including ground beef, pork, and sausage, and fills gaps by sourcing from other suppliers.

“Farm to school has boosted our business by 15 percent,” Jorge said. “It’s been significant, and we see a clear path for continued growth. It’s exciting to see schools finding that kids enjoy the food, and it’s lasting longer and staying fresher.”

Why participate in farm to school programs?

Small local farms can provide more flexibility compared to large-scale farms with fixed crop selections. Schools can buy from these smaller farms to get produce that suits students' tastes and in some cases even influence what is grown to meet their specific needs—something larger farms may not be financially motivated to do.

Annette Slonim, WSDA's Farm to School Lead, highlighted that farm to school initiatives can help farmers access new markets. “Although not all farmers will see the same boost in sales, schools can be a valuable part of a diverse sales strategy, alongside restaurants, grocery stores, CSAs, or other local markets. The WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grants help schools afford local foods from small farms and can also be a market for surplus or "seconds" that might not sell elsewhere. Overall, schools offer multiple opportunities for local farms.”
        
Supporting local farmers has a direct impact on local communities, as noted by Abby Miller, Director of Nutrition Services for Northeast Washington ESD 101. She stated, “In the small rural towns we serve, local economies are struggling. By sourcing locally for our school system, we support the community and provide healthier food for the kids. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

Out of the 59 school districts served by with ESD 101, 19 are currently participating in the Farm to School Program. Miller hopes more districts will recognize the benefits and join the initiative.

Making farm to school accessible and successful

The final stop for conference-goers was Freeman School District, where Mataio Gillis, a former Chef and Culinary Program Supervisor from Bellingham Public Schools, did a live cooking session on how school nutrition employees can integrate local produce into school meals. Recipes like yogurt and buttermilk dressing, pizza made with local bakery Rind & Wheat pizza dough, and toppings bar ideas for tacos, pizza, and hamburgers were just a few demonstrated. 

Gillis explained that for schools new to farm to school, starting with simple measures like taste tests or incorporating microgreens can ease the transition. Experienced schools might advance to more complex initiatives like scratch cooking or using seasonal produce and meat purchases. 

Here are some key takeaways from the Field to Flavor Tour

1. Local sourcing benefits: Farm to School Programs enhance student meals by incorporating fresh, locally grown produce from nearby farms, supporting local agriculture, and improving the nutritional quality of school meals.
2. Farm-to-school success stories: Small farms, like Casa Cano Farms, are thriving through the program, supplying local schools with fresh produce, beef, pork, grains, and value-added food products - and experiencing a business boost.
3. Community impact: Farm to school programs aid local economies, offering flexible, nutrient-dense food options and aligning with schools' health-focused guidelines. This creates a win-win for both the community and students.
4. ESD 101 Regional Farm to School Program expansion: Out of 59 public school districts working with ESD 101, 19 are involved in ESD 101’s farm to school program, with hopes for broader participation as the benefits become more recognized. ESD 101 is piloting a model that might be successfully replicated in more regions.
5. Accessible integration: For schools new to the program, starting with simple measures like taste tests or incorporating microgreens can ease the transition. Experienced schools might advance to more complex initiatives like scratch cooking or using seasonal produce and local meat purchases.
6. Partnerships are key: This unique farm to school model demonstrates the power of partnerships across local, regional, and state levels to help build relationships, invest in our local farms, and expand access to high-quality local foods for kids. 

To learn more and get involved in farm to school, interested parties can visit the WSDA Farm to School section on our website, check out the list of school districts with a current WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant and connect with a ESD Regional Farm to School Coordinator, or get in touch with Annette Slonim, WSDA Farm to School Lead, at aslonim@agr.wa.gov or 206-714-2757.