Educational Activities

• Washington Apple Crunch: Apples are a big deal in Washington – we grow more apples than any other state! Simply order enough apples to go around, serve them to students as part of lunch or snack, and celebrate the moment everyone bites into their Washington-grown apple. Join the Washington Apple Crunch at noon across the state, or any time that works for you schedule.

• Fruit & veggie costumes: Have older students (FFA, culinary, etc.) dress up in costume and serve kids lunch, hand out tastes, or give stickers to kids who try the featured foods. Is your cashier willing to dress up? – Well then, she/he will have a blast!

• Invite a farmer for lunch: Use our sample farmer invitation letter, add your own menu, and send it to your partner farms. Partner with them to run a taste table at school cafeteria. (Sample letters available on our resources page, linked above)

• Do a local food taste test: Partner with a local farmer to provide different varieties or types of seasonal food samples (like apples!) to students, and let them vote on which was their favorite.

• Invite teachers and staff: Use our sample school office invitation that includes sample talking points to invite teachers and staff, and ask them to promote Taste Washington Day lunch to students. If you can get to, attach a recipe card so that they can try at home.

• Bring the school to the farm: Visit the school garden or on-site farm, or coordinte with your school to make a trip out to a local farm to learn more about where our food comes from.

• Future Farmers of America, 4-H activities: Contact your local chapters of FFA or 4-H to have older students in your district present, make displays, or bring other farm-related activities into your cafeteria or lunchroom.

• “I tried it” or fruit & veggie stickers: hand out stickers, pencils or other small incentives to kids who try the featured foods. 

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