USDA – Maggie Gosselin & Matthew Benson
“Happy National Farm to School Month! Every October, the USDA Farm to School team is overwhelmed with stories of how farm to school programs are affecting kids, producers, and communities…Stories about local farmers proudly supplying grains for a district’s whole grain baked goods; stories about school food service staff dressing up like fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating; stories about kids growing beets in the school garden and then devouring them when they show up in the cafeteria…A 2015 research review in the Journal of School Health looked at sixteen studies that assessed the effect of school gardens on academic and dietary outcomes in students. Of the twelve studies measuring dietary outcomes, all of them showed students eating or likely to eat more fruits and vegetables. Additionally, three of the four studies measuring academic outcomes also showed student improvements.”(more)