The following is a press release issued by the Fort Bragg Unified School District:
October is National Farm to School Month, a celebration of the vibrant partnerships forming across the country between schools, food, and local farmers. This year’s theme, From Soil to Sea: Nourishing People and Planet, reflects the Farm-to-School movement’s mission of supporting communities by providing access to fresh, nutritious food while empowering local food producers.
This month, students and staff at Fort Bragg Middle School and Fort Bragg High School celebrated with a series of activities supported by the schools’ Agriculture Departments, Future Farmers of America (FFA), FBUSD Nutrition Services, farm-to-school non-profit partner Noyo Food Forest, and the Center for Ecoliteracy. Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire’s District Representative Rhiannon Philippi joined the festivities, highlighting the importance of farm-to-school initiatives for the district and beyond.
The celebration kicked off with students using Noyo Food Forest’s pedal-powered blender bike to make nutritious kale smoothies with produce grown at Noyo Food Forest, partnered with FBHS and located on campus. The event also featured a tasting of October’s Harvest of the Month tomatoes, grown on-site, and apples donated by Good Things Farm in Fort Bragg. FFA and Agriculture students led the activities, sharing their enthusiasm for locally-sourced produce with their peers, and students had the opportunity to win locally made paletas, a delicious treat crafted by Good Things Farm with organic fruit grown on the Mendocino Coast.
Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) has been a leader in the Farm-to-School movement for decades, exemplified by its cohesive Kindergarten-to-12th-grade agriculture and nutrition program. FBUSD’s initiatives recently received a boost from a $200,000 California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) grant to support its farm-to-school programs. Each school site has its own garden, where students learn about the role of local agriculture in creating a healthier planet and stronger communities.
The district’s Nutrition Services Department regularly purchases fresh produce from the school farm and other local suppliers like Noyo Food Forest and Nye Ranch, helping to support the local economy while nourishing students. “Our district’s farm-to-school program plays a critical role in teaching our students the value of healthy food and sustainable agriculture,” said Pilar Gray, FBUSD Director of Nutrition Services. “We’re thrilled to celebrate these partnerships and grateful for the support of our community.”
In the Fort Bragg schools, learning about agriculture and healthy eating begins in kindergarten and continues through elementary grades with Iris Hemmings, who leads regular nutrition garden classes. Rebecca Duran takes over in middle school, where she introduces students to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to prepare them for further engagement in high school, where Daniela Oliva leads the agricultural curriculum. FBUSD’s high school agriculture department includes three teachers and a range of courses to prepare students for agriculture careers.
As Fort Bragg Unified School District celebrates National Farm to School Month, it remains committed to promoting well-being among children and supporting strong local economies by encouraging community-based food production and sustainable practices.
