October is Minnesota Farm to School & Early Care Month!
Join us for Farm to School and Early Care Month IN October!
October is Farm to School and Early Care Month – a time to enjoy and celebrate local food in our schools and communities. It’s also a time to share gratitude with those who make Farm to School possible including farmers, educators, nutrition professionals, and community members.
This year’s theme in Minnesota is GATHER & GROW. Schools, students and families, and communities are invited to gather over local meals to taste the joy of local eating, build connections, and grow together. There are many ways that you can bring the Gather & Grow theme to life at your school(s) and early care settings, and there are resources to help you along the way. Here are a few of the ways that you can celebrate:
Join in the Minnesota Great Apple Crunch on October 12
Plan a celebration meal featuring local products, such as a Minnesota Thursday lunch
Participate in the Minnesota Grown Farm to School District of the Year
Feature local foods on your menu throughout the month
Incorporate local foods into classroom lessons
Celebrate the Minnesota Great Apple Crunch!
Join the 2023 Great Apple Crunch to celebrate Minnesota farmers, healthy kids, and strong communities! Participating in the Crunch is simple: buy, serve, and Crunch into locally grown apples!
The official Crunch date and time is Thursday, October 12th, 2023, at 12:00pm, but we welcome your Crunch any time in October. Register your Crunch to make it official, add your numbers to the Crunch count, get the scoop on serving local apples, and receive the Crunch Guide. Register by Monday, September 25th to get FREE Crunch Stickers in the mail!
Since 2014, we have highlighted National Farm to School Month with millions of Crunches across the region- join us this year to make the biggest Crunch yet!
Activity Resources
Participate in the Minnesota Grown Farm To School District of the Year Contest!
Show off your Farm to School and Minnesota Grown pride!
Minnesota Grown is excited to host its first annual Farm to School District of the Year Contest – a statewide contest to celebrate school districts who buy, serve, and promote Minnesota Grown foods! The contest will take place during Farm to School Month.
To enter the contest, school districts will submit photos and accompanying information that document how they served and promoted local foods during Farm to School Month and their commitment to serving and promoting local foods.
The first place winner will receive an on-site, school-focused culinary training for a group of staff!
National Farm to School Network, Farm to School Month Graphics + Resources
The National Farm to School Network has recently released their Farm to School month graphics, logos and lots of resources to assist in planning your Farm to School month celebrations. Explore these free resources to guide your plans to celebrate and promote your Farm to School story!
Communications Resources
Use these hashtags to highlight your Farm to School Month fun!: #F2SMonth #MNFarmtoSchool #GatherandGrowMN
Tag these partners: @mnagriculture; @MNDeptEd; @MNAgintheClassroom