Southwest Florida
Farm to School Program

The Southwest Florida Farm to School Program is an initiative by UF/IFAS-Sarasota County Extension to strengthen the local agricultural economy, and to provide “Local food for Healthy Children” in our public school lunch programs.  This Program is regional in scope with partnerships initiated in Manatee and Charlotte counties that include local farmers, county school district Food Service Departments, and Farm Bureau and UF/IFAS county offices.

The Farm to School Program is a national effort to provide locally-grown foods in school meals for the benefits of high nutrition to the children and for opportunities in direct marketing and risk management to farmers, especially producers on middle to small size family farms.

The goals of the Southwest Florida Farm to School also include improving the public’s awareness of Florida agriculture, and especially teaching our children where food comes from.  For example, support is provided to local schools to provide edible school gardens for students of all ages.  It supports our School District Food Service Directors who continue to significantly improve the nutritional quality of school lunches.  It strengthens the Wellness Policies adopted by school districts to promote healthy eating choices and behavior.  And it supports local community efforts to address serious health issues such as what has been called “the youth obesity epidemic”.

Pilot projects have been successfully facilitated in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. In the school year 07-08, the local foods to be served in school lunches include tangerines from the Hi Hat Ranch in Sarasota, FL and potatoes from the Jones Potato Farm in Parrish, FL.  Currently meetings are being conducted with food service staff and local growers, as well as visits to farms and school cafeterias, to provide education to both parties on the needs for food production, processing and purchasing.   These efforts are intended to serve additional types of fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.

There are community partner opportunities to assist the Farm to School Program meet its goals.  Community partners include the Sarasota County Farm Bureau which has provided a $5,000 grant and the Florida West Coast Resource Conservation and Development (RC&C) in Ellenton, FL.  All Faiths Food Bank, based in Sarasota, FL, has become a partner in the program to assist in logistical support thru its distribution and processing system.  The Sarasota-Manatee Originals unanimously endorsed the Farm to School Program and have agreed to provide a variety of support services. “The Originals”, as they are known locally, is a group of over 50 Independently-owned restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

The Southwest Florida Farm to School Program welcomes all interested groups or individuals wishing to get involved in the program, including expanding it into neighboring counties. Facilitators are available to give presentations on the program, just contact us at 941/861-5000 and ask for Sarasota County Extension.

Farmer and Rancher Article on the Farm to School Program

Implemented Programs

• Sarasota County Farm to School Pilot Program
• Charlotte County Farm to School Pilot Program
• Manatee County Farm to School Pilot Program