3 Components of Farm to School:

1) local food in the cafeteria,

2) nutrition education, and

3) school gardens.

SDUSD Food & Nutrition Services Farm to School (F2S) programming began back in 2010 by incorporating salad bars and locally grown produce as part of their school meal programs. Since then, Food Services has added and expanded different F2S programs to help support school gardens or promote nutrition education. See below! 

Currently, Janelle Manzano, MPH, serves as our district Farm to School Program Specialist. She provides support and programs for the 3 components of F2S listed above! Her goal is to connect all 3 components of F2S by cultivating better relationships between the different folks involved in each component. This includes classroom teachers, garden and health educators, the cafeteria team, and more! 

Questions? Email [email protected] 

Local food promotions

Did you know that student meal participation helps us gain reimbursable funds from the USDA? These funds are then invested into purchasing more locally grown, raised, and produced food for our school meal program. 

Learn more from our friends The Farm to School Collective here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVJqEJ4kYKw 

Cafeteria tastings

You may see our F2S Specialist and team hosting a cafeteria tasting during lunch at your school site. Cafeteria tastings include encouraging students to taste the Harvest of the Month, testing new menu items, or featuring manager's specials. 

Classroom Tastings (For teachers)

Teachers: You can host a Harvest of the Month tasting with your students in the classroom! Rent a HOTM Classroom Taste Kit and receive fresh fruit at no cost from Food Services.

Request your kits and learn more here.

Nutrition Education 

K-12 PRESENTATIONS

Request a classroom, assembly, or virtual nutrition education presentation from our district F2S Specialist. 

*Note: Due to COVID-19, assembly-style presentations are not available this school year (21-22)

Topics for elementary students include: Go Grow Glow foods, Eat the Rainbow, and the school cafe's Harvest of the Month 

Topics for secondary students include: Components of a Healthy Eating (MyPlate), Eat the Rainbow, Sustainable Food Systems 

Presentations can be between 30 to 60 minutes long.

• Request form for ELEMENTARY 
• Request form for SECONDARY 

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

Request a presentation about Food Services and Farm to School programming for your school events (in-person or virtual). Examples include: Coffee with the Principal, Family Friday, Faculty Meetings, Zoom Parent Assemblies, etc. 

Our Farm to School Specialist will discuss Food Services, Farm to School, and answer any questions from families. 

School Garden programs

The programs below are meant to help your school garden connect with your school café or school community! 

Garden to Cafe

This program began in 2013 and allows school grown produce to be served in the school cafeteria salad bar as part of lunch! Starting SY 21-22, G2C produce can now be purchased by Food Services to help your school garden raise funds.

School garden coordinators must get trained and certified by our F2S Specialist to assure gardens are following food safety protocols. 

Cafe to Compost

This program closes the loop of G2C. In this program, school gardens may collect food scraps from the school cafeteria to be utilized in their garden compost bin.

To get connected with your school café, email our district Recycling Specialist Janet Whited at [email protected].

Youth Garden Stand

This is one of our newer school garden programs, starting back in 2017! School grown produce can be sold on-campus to your school community (parents, families, faculty, etc.) to help raise funds for your school garden club.

Training and certification to assure food safety protocols can be completed with our F2S Specialist.