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Farm to school is taking place in all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. Territories! Select a location from the list below to learn more or contact a Core Partner.
Farm to School Policy Case Study - Arizona H.B. 2518: Easing the Journey from School Garden to Cafeteria
School gardens offer a great opportunity to connect the garden to the cafeteria with fresh produce. This allows students to eat what they grow, which has been shown to have several benefits, including increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and willingness to try new foods.
School garden programs across the country have experienced success through partnerships with cafeterias, yet this approach is underutilized. While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows produce from school gardens to be used in school meals, some states and districts disallow or discourage it due to food safety concerns.
To address this issue, state laws and regulations can provide permission for schools to integrate school garden produce into their cafeterias. In 2016, Arizona farm to school supporters worked together to pass H.B. 2518 and developed a statewide food safety certification program for produce from school gardens.
This case study delves into Arizona's approach to passing this bill, implementation strategies, and key takeaways.
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