Farm-to-School Efforts Grow in Minnesota Schools

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Since 2012, Minnesota (5.2% Latino) school districts have been working to expand farm-to-school fresh food options within school lunches, buying local fresh fruits and vegetables and serving up whole-grain fresh bread.

Over 27 kitchens within the state now offer fresh, cooked from scratch meals, Bertrand Weber, Minneapolis Public Schools Nutrition director explained to the StarTribune.

A department of agriculture had help invest over one million dollars in over 57 districts to help support schools to upgrade their kitchens, buy local produce, make fresh meals and serve more nutritious options.

However, a poll taken by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota found that 69 % of parents still worry about physical activity and healthy food access for their students while they are at school.

This is even more important for Latino kids who often are in environments where less fresh fruits and vegetables are offered shows recent studies.

The schools across the district hope to continue their efforts to provide healthy meals but they also hope parents will get involved and petition and support concerns they have of extending lunchtime and giving kids more nutrition education.

With support from parents, teachers, policy makers and health advocates, these joint efforts can bring in more fresh fruits and vegetables into schools and into kids bodies, creating a healthier food environment for healthier future generations.

To see how you can help support a healthy food environment for Latino kids, read more here.