Growing for Schools / Cultivando para las escuelas
When a student learns that the lettuce on their lunch tray came from a farm down the road, it sparks curiosity, pride, and often a willingness to try something new.
This practical guide supports California farmers in partnering with school districts and navigating the unique requirements of school nutrition programs. It includes an overview of how school meal programs work, how purchasing decisions are made, and tips to confidently sell fruits and vegetables to schools.
Cuando un estudiante aprende que la lechuga en su plato viene de una granja cercana, se despiertan la curiosidad, el orgullo, y las ganas de probar algo nuevo.
Esta guía práctica apoya a los agricultores de California a colaborar con los distritos escolares y a navegar los requisitos únicos de los programas de nutrición escolar. Incluye una descripción general de cómo funcionan los programas de comidas escolares, cómo se toman las decisiones de compra y consejos para vender frutas y verduras a las escuelas con confianza.
Thank you to Michelle Drake, Director, Food and Nutrition Services, Elk Grove Unified School District; Erin Primer, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, San Luis Coastal Unified School District; and Kat Soltanmorad, RDN, Director, Food and Nutrition Services, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, for contributing to this publication.
Funding for Growing for Schools: A Farmer’s Guide for Exploring New Markets is made possible by a grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
