Students and community members gathered recently for the eighth annual “Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth.” This year's event was hosted at Isle of Wight County Schools’ award-winning Agricultural Land Lab as part of Virginia Farm-to-School Week (Oct. 7-11).
Virginia's farm-to-school programs connect students with locally grown food in cafeterias, preschools, and summer feeding programs while enhancing educational opportunities in school gardens, student farms, and land labs, classrooms, and cafeterias.
The statewide Crunch campaign encouraged Virginians to take a bite out of a fresh, Virginia-grown apple and share their celebrations on social media using the hashtags #VACrunch and #VAFarmtoSchool.
Students, educators, and several elected officials gathered at Isle of Wight's Agricultural Land Lab to participate as a group and raise awareness of Virginia's farm-to-school programs.
“Across the Commonwealth, our schools are enhancing their school environment by implementing farm-to-school programs in diverse ways that include local procurement, school gardens, farm visits, and cooking demonstrations,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Lisa Coons. “It’s refreshing to see students learn about and enjoy locally grown or raised products in school meals and make the connection to Virginia agriculture. It is no question that farm-to-school programs benefit students, local producers, and economies throughout Virginia.”
Students not only explore where their food comes from and gain practical agricultural skills in the programs, but they also enjoy the "fruits of their labor" during lunches in their school cafeterias.
"Throughout Virginia, school divisions are making strides to improve the taste, quality, and nutrition of meals served by incorporating more scratch cooking, locally procured foods, and student-inspired meals on the lunch line. Schools are getting creative with their farm-to-school approach by incorporating taste testing, nutrition education, and hands-on gardening and agriculture education into Standards of Learning during the school day,” said Virginia Department of Education School and Community Nutrition Programs Director Dr. Sandy Curwood.
According to annual data collected by the VDOE, Virginia farm-to-school programs are growing. During the 2022–2023 school year, purchases of local food totaled $20.85 million from over 130 school divisions.
Read more about local farm-to-school programs:
Cultivating Knowledge: Inside Isle Of Wight County Schools Agricultural Land Lab
Poquoson High School Creates 'Giving Garden'
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