Farm to School Program

Farm to School programs connect Miami Dade County Public Schools with local, Florida-grown produce through school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks programs. Since 2009, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Department of Food and Nutrition has prioritized sourcing seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables when available through its school meal programs and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant. Farm to School efforts also include Garden to Cafeteria initiatives, where food service staff are trained to incorporate school garden harvests such as herbs or other produce items into menus, and partnerships with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to offer Virtual Farm Field Trips, giving students the opportunity to bring the farm to the classroom and learn about Florida agriculture. 

M-DCPS FN is defining local as fruits and vegetables grown within the state of Florida.

Look out for these locally-grown items in school meals and/or through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in participating elementary schools:

Starfruit		Sapodilla
Corn		Green Beans
Kumquat		Strawberries
Blueberries		Tomatoes
Collard Green		Yellow and Green Squash
Calabaza		Boniato

There are three main benefits from Farm-to-institution programs:

• Environment: Buying locally-grown foods reduces “food miles” (the number of truck/plane/boat miles traveled to transport food from origin to consumer), thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum dependence. Shorter food miles also reduces energy use, as shorter trips reduce the length of time produce is refrigerated.
• Health: Locally-grown fruits and vegetables are picked when ripe, as opposed to fruits and vegetables grown in other countries or states that are picked before ripe to accommodate for the long transport time. Produce that is allowed to ripen before being harvested contains higher levels of nutrients than those harvested early.
• Economy: Buying from local farmers keeps money flowing into local economies and helps preserve jobs for small and local farmers.

The Director of Food & Menu Management and the Farm to School Manager are researching local growers, packers, and distributors. Those who are found to meet the eligibility requirements and program needs will be invited to apply to become a M-DCPS FN vendor. All contracts are determined through a competitive bid process.

Parents can help this program succeed by providing children locally-grown produce at home. Students that are familiar with these items are more likely to choose and eat these items during school meals. The items can be ordered and served more frequently and in all schools so long as students are receptive to these items. PTAs can conduct farmers’ markets and food demonstrations utilizing local foods as healthy fundraising options that reinforce the Farm-to-Institution message, and schools can become drop-off sites for existing community-supported agriculture (CSAs).

Locally-grown foods are sold at farmers’ markets and CSAs. Publix now offers produce grown in Homestead as well: look for the “Redlands Raised” label on select fruits and vegetables. Produce labeled “Local” at Whole Foods is grown within the state of Florida. Click here for a list of farmers’ markets and CSAs that offer locally-grown (and sometimes organic) produce, herbs, honey, eggs, meat, and cheese.

Technical assistance may be provided to assist schools to conduct farmers’ markets. Click here to see our “How to” manual for incorporating CSAs and farmers’ markets at your school.