CELEBRATE FARM-TO-SCHOOL CONNECTIONS WITH TASTE WASHINGTON DAY ON OCTOBER 2ND

WSDA Farm to School and the Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) with support from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition (OSPI), partner to sponsor Taste Washington Day, an annual celebration of Washington grown foods served in school meals during the fall harvest season. Schools connect with local farms to make the most of our bountiful fall harvest, and use Taste Washington Day to kick-off Farm to School Month in October. It’s the 9th year in a row for this event that celebrates, facilitates and encourages partnerships between farmers and schools to feature Washington-grown foods in cafeteria meals.

Taste Washington Day encourages the collaboration of school districts, school gardeners, educators, and their local agricultural community to provide healthy school meals throughout the school year. Twenty-four school districts and childcare centers, and more than 50 farms, have already signed up to participate this year. Find out which schools and farms are participating on WSDA’s website . Many participating schools use Taste Washington Day as an opportunity to highlight special, seasonal menus and celebrate what “farm to school” means to them.

At least 100 districts in Washington participate in some form of farm to school activities during the school year, such as buying foods from Washington farmers or doing agricultural education. The U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture estimates schools in our state spend more than $17 million a year on Washington-grown foods. For more information contact Chris Iberle, WSDA Regional Markets Program, at 206-256-1874.