Colorado Celebrates National Farm to School Month with New Website

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Farm to School Task Force has developed a new website to help increase local foods in schools across the state. The website, www.coloradofarmtoschool.org, is for producers, schools and communities looking to learn more about developing farm to school efforts in Colorado.

“October is National Farm to School Month and we are really excited to launch this new website as a way to celebrate local foods in schools,” said Wendy White, marketing specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “We hope this website provides the information producers, schools, parents and students need to implement farm to school activities in their communities.”

The website provides information to producers, schools and parents about school requirements, events and opportunities, how to incorporate local ingredients, regulations and resources. The website also includes training materials, a resource toolbox, funding options, webinars and other templates to help communities develop or expand farm to school activities. There is also a dedicated section for students who want to become leaders in their schools’ farm to school programs. The website provides peer-to-peer learning and sharing through its blog, calendar of events and “Ask an Expert” forum.

“With the launch of the new Colorado Farm To School website, Colorado’s school nutrition professionals, students, parents and producers now have one place to connect with each other and learn more about the farm to school movement,” said Jeremy West, Greeley-Evans Weld County School District Nutrition Service Director. “This dynamic culmination of Colorado Farm to School information and materials serves as a model for other states as Colorado schools lead the good food movement for our nation’s students.”

The website was created by the Colorado Farm to School Task Force, which was created in 2010 by the Colorado General Assembly. The Task Force’s 13-member body is comprised of representatives from schools, parents, producer organizations and state agencies. The Task Force meets quarterly and the next meeting is on Friday, October 26, noon-4pm, at the Montrose County Extension Office. The meeting is open to the public.
For more information contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture Markets Division at (303) 239-4119 or visit www.coloradofarmtoschool.org.