Northeast washington educational service district 101 will implement a regional farm to school program to replicate successful models in four additional regions of washington state building upon…

Northeast washington educational service district 101 will implement a regional farm to school program to replicate successful models in four additional regions of washington state building upon existing activities in northeast washington. This project will support the development of regional farm to school models across educational service districts fostering connections between farmers ranchers processors and school food authorities. The project will employ three regional farm to school coordinators who will partner with existing team nutrition mentors within 22 small rural school food authorities facilitating the integration of fresh local food products into school cafeterias. This initiative anticipates expanding access to regional food sources for consumers and strengthening local economies by connecting producers with school nutrition programs. The anticipated outcomes include increased procurement of local food items supporting farmers and ranchers in delivering their products to school meal programs and enriching the dietary options available to students. The beneficiaries of this project encompass a wide range of stakeholders including school food authorities producers processors and the students who will benefit from locally sourced food representing a significant investment in the viability and resilience of regional food systems throughout washington state.