Farm-to-School and School Garden Programs

2008 Legislation

House Bill 3601 would create a pilot farm-to-school and school garden program at the Oregon Department of Education. The new farm-to-school coordinator would work with schools to incorporate healthy Oregon farm products into school meals and promote school teaching gardens around the state.

A position was already created at the Department of Agriculture to work with farmers. Now, it is necessary to create a corresponding position at the Department of Education to work with schools. The Department of Education is the agency with the expertise to cut through the tangle of federal regulations to connect Oregon farmers to local schools.

Please Call Your State Representative to Help this Bill Pass.

Read a one-page handout about the 2008 legislation (pdf).

A Future Vision for School Foods

The farm-to-school movement seeks to jumpstart a new generation of school foods that are healthier, support a vibrant Oregon agricultural sector, and promote a more sustainable food system. This approach is a guaranteed win for Oregon's kids, farmers, and the environment.

Through a systemic approach, we seek to both increase the interest of school children to eat healthier foods, and integrate more fruits and vegetables of higher quality into school meals. Multiple expert reports in Oregon have identified farm-to-school and school garden programs as an important strategy to prevent obesity.

In 2009, the farm-to-school and school garden network will likely introduce a comprehensive package of bills to provide resources for schools to buy more Oregon foods and set up teaching gardens around the state.