Border School Changes School Lunch Through School Farm

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In 2008 an acre sized school farm started at IDEA schools on the border of Texas and Mexico in Donna, Texas, (92.3% Latino).

The farming classes taught by Hernan Coldemero, practice agriculture basics and learn about food systems, all the while consuming healthier school lunches.

In fact, 95% of the 6600 lbs of produce is used in school lunches while the leftover produce helps to keep the farm and schools sustainable, selling the produce to parents at the school’s farmers market

Noah, a student who comes after school to help take care of the plants and hopes to learn more about how to grow food so he can one day plant a garden at home said in the video, “Not all schools have this opportunity”, he said, “If you’re going to the cafeteria and eating fruits and vegetables, you can really taste the freshness”.

Having fresh foods for school is vital to the growing Latino population, where many Latino kids often have less access to healthier school food, studies show.  Research also reveals that gardening has many other health benefits for students as well, even relieving depression and stress.

“If they are convincing their parents to give them a garden space so they can grow their own food, I think I have done my job,” said Coldemero.

To learn more about the importance of having healthy food in schools for Latino kids, click here.