Cornell Cooperative Extension

Jefferson County
grow tray planting

Grow Tray Planting at Indian River Schools

grow trays

School students grow their own lettuce

Student-grown lettuce on its way to the cafeteria

Student-grown lettuce on its way to the cafeteria!

salads

Salads for lunch!

Farm to School Program

Connecting Farms and Schools

Farm to School Program

Together with local school districts and community partners, we are planning and implementing farm to school programs with the ultimate goal of providing an appreciation for fresh, local, nutritious food, while simultaneously benefiting the community and local farmers.

Farm to School Grant partnerships: CCE partnered with Indian River Central School and Watertown City School District to write and Coordinate USDA Planning Grants.
garden School gardens: Master Gardeners help grow gardens with produce that can be used in school meal programs.
Harvest of the Month Monthly Harvest: SNAP-Ed educators bring nutrition lessons, food demonstrations and samples of seasonal recipes to North Country schools.
Ag in the Classroom Ag Literacy Week: Each year CCE coordinates volunteers in 2nd grade classrooms throughout Jefferson County to share a story and activity that promotes NY agriculture.
Ag Ag Extravaganza: Fall event aimed at helping 4th graders develop an appreciation for local agriculture. 

Contact

Amanda Root
Director of Operations/ Nutrition, Parenting, Taste NY & Fort Drum Issue Leader
arr27@cornell.edu
315-788-8450 ext. 273

Last updated January 25, 2022

Local Foods

Contact Us!

We welcome interested parents, school personnel, and community members to contact us about your school becoming involved in similar initiatives.

Resources

New York State Farm to School

USDA School Planning Toolkit

NY Agriculture in the Classroom

Impacts

1. Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to support farm to school activities

2. Performed district menu and local food procurement audits

3. Assisted with procurement of two local foods for summer meals

4. Created and implemented outreach and education plans for students and parents

5. Offered taste test events at local school buildings

6. Coordinated hands-on Common Core Standards aligning nutrition and education for each grade level

7. Collaborated with 7-12 teachers to provide education on topics such as food systems, food justice, and careers in agriculture

8. Assisted in the coordination, planting, and harvesting of a pilot school garden

9. Incorporated garden activities into classroom education for every student