‘Farm-to-School’ initiative puts fresh produce in classes
San Marcos district works with Redlands farmer to promote nutrition, better eating
Knob Hill Elementary School in San Marcos fifth graders shop for produce during a Farmers’ Market held at the school Wednesday. BILL WECHTER@
SAN MARCOS — When you hear the popular phrase “farm to table,” it’s often in reference to a restaurant promoting a locally sourced menu, or to a farmers market.
Now the “farm to table” philosophy has caught on in education, including the San Marcos Unified School District. With the help of a Southern California farmer, it’s being used there to promote nutrition, encourage healthy eating, and get local produce on cafeteria trays.
San Marcos has made using local produce in its cafeterias a priority, said nutrition education supervisor Herbie Smith. As part of a wider “farm-to-school” initiative, the district’s nutrition education program works with farmer Bob Knight of Redlands, who visits San Marcos elementary schools with a mini farmers market, raising awareness among students about how fruits and vegetables get to their lunch trays.
“They put a face to the farmer,” Smith said. “It really creates that sense of excitement about the food.”
Under new National School Lunch Program guidelines, students buying a cafeteria meal must take a fruit or vegetable, “and we don’t want to see it