Review information
Read Examples from 2003 and 2004 NYSSFSA NY Farms! Partnership Award honorees on the NY Farms! web site www.nyfarms.info/farmtoschool.html
Read examples of what other counties have done at the Cornell Farm to School site www.cce.cornell.edu/farmtoschool/existing.cfm
Contact other Food Service Directors for more ideas and suggestions
Identify resources
Visit the Cornell Farm to School resource page: www.cce.cornell.edu/farmtoschool/resources.cfm
Visit Agriculture in the Classroom: www.cerp.cornell.edu/aitc
For guidance on growing a school garden visit Cornell University's Kids Growing Food Program: www.cerp.cornell.edu/kgf
Discovering the Food System: An Experiential Learning Program for Young and Inquiring Minds. Designed for teachers and leaders of middle and high schooled aged youth. This website has downloadable lesson plans, activities, and more. www.hort.cornell.edu/foodsys
Healthy Farms, Healthy Kids: Evaluating the Barriers and Opportunities for Farm To School Programs. A report on the background and history of farm-to-school programs in the USA. 2001, 64pp, $12 + s/h Available through the Community Food Security Coalition 310-822-5410 http://www.foodsecurity.org
National Farm To School Program: Contact www.farmtoschool.org or email Marion Kalb
New York State Apple Association can provide a listing of wholesale sources for apples and cider. Contact: Dave McClurg, Executive Director, P.O. Box 350, Fishers, NY 14453-0350. Ph: 585-924-2171. www.nyapplecountry.org
New York State Dairy Foods, Inc. can provide names of dairy processors who produce yogurt, cheese, sour cream, and ice cream made from New York milk. 201 So. Main St. Suite 302, North Syracuse, NY 13212. Ph: 315-452-MILK (6455)
New York State Harvest Calendar www.agmkt.state.ny.us/HarvestCalendar.html
New York State Vegetable Growers Association has a shipper's directory of NYS vegetable growers. For more information, contact Jeff & Lindy Kubecka at P.O. Box 70 Kirkville, NY 13082. Ph: 315-687-5734.
Northeast Regional Food Guide: This resource can help northeastern consumers choose a healthy, enjoyable diet from foods grown, raised, and processed in the Northeast. The Northeast Regional Food Guide is available as a 19" x 28" poster and/or a 8.5" x 11" two-sided flyer. Fact sheets are also available. Please select the above link for a printable order form. www.nutrition.cornell.edu/foodguide/lists.html
Schools Come to the Farm: A Farm Guide for Giving Tours. Supported with a "Farm and Food" grant from NY Farms! and produced by the NY Agriculture in the Classroom Program and the Cornell Educational Resources Program (CERP), this guide provides helpful guidelines for farmers who want to offer tours to schools. Available in 2003. Cost: $7.00 + s/h. To order A Farm Guide for Giving Tours, contact the CERP Store: (607) 255-1837, or cerp@cornell.edu to visit the CERP store online Ag In The Classroom activities, Fresh From NY Farms fliers and other nutritional information
Identify partners
Members of your school and community may be willing to plan or help with activities: your staff, teachers, nurses, librarians, school garden coordinators, parents, farmers, food businesses, ag and food organizations.
Ask your principals and superintendent for their support, to encourage teachers and parent groups to get involved. People who grew up on farms, or have relatives in farming and food businesses, will often be enthusiastic and willing to help.
Contact NY Farms! 1-888-693-2767, nyfarms@nyfarms.info for food and farm groups in your region that may partner with you.
Ask Nutrition and Agricultural agents at your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office if they would like to be included. Find your county Extension office at www.cce.cornell.edu/local_offices.cfm
Find local Farm Bureau chapters at www.nyfb.org/counties.htm and ask for help identifying farms for purchasing, farm tours, farmer visits to schools.
Contact the NY State American Culinary Federation for local chapter info and ask about their Chef and the Child Program. James Rhoads, 518-828-4157, chefjrhoads3@att.net
Look for local farms, cider mills, dairies making cheese and yoghurt, to arrange tours or school visits, at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AP/FFGSearch.asp. Chose your region and then select Ôfarm tours' from the farm product/service list.
Locate farmers' markets at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AP/CommunityFarmersMarkets.asp for class tours, and to encourage students and their families to visit a farmers' market or farm stand.
Plan a New York menu
Let your suppliers know you are looking for NY-grown foods fresh, frozen, processed. Ask them what foods they carry or can source from local farmers and food processors.
Tell your suppliers they can find sources of NY foods on the NYS Department of Ag & Markets web site www.prideofny.com/PONYSearch.asp
Visit classrooms to engage students in discussions of NY-grown fruits, vegetables, dairy products, to help plan the NY Harvest menu, and to create artwork for the September and October menus.
Plan product tastings of new or unusual foods, prep and cooking activities in classrooms with chefs or Extension nutrition agents, school assemblies or harvest fairs with local farmers and chefs.
Publicize your celebration
Draft a "Welcome Back" memo for early September distribution, with announcements on the planned activities, available materials for classroom, contact info for farm and farmers' market tours.
Use the back of fall menus to give parents info about NY Harvest for NY Kids, recipes, nutrition facts, local farmers' markets, facts about local agriculture (ask Extension for statistics on your county's farms and crops, or find at www.nass.usda.gov/ny/CountyBrochures/county.htm).
Ask your School District office to publicize the NY Harvest for NY Kids celebration in the District newsletter, in a take-home flier to parents, to the School Board, and with a release to local media. Invite School Board members to visit the schools and participate in the NY Harvest activities
