BROOMFIELD, Colo. – This week, children across the state celebrated Colorado School Meal Day on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Hosted annually by the Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Education, the day celebrates Colorado agriculture and educates K-12 school children about healthy eating – and about where their food comes from.
More than 105,000 students statewide participated and learned about agriculture, while eating locally-grown and -made meals. They talked about healthy eating, innovation, farmers and ranchers, and even their own roles as young people engaged in the local food movement. School districts also included agriculture in the classrooms with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education-focused materials and guest speakers.
“Agriculture is an important subject for every age and generation, and the Colorado Proud program wants to highlight the relationship between the way we eat and the way we live. School Meal Day promotes conversations with students about local food and agriculture, while also encouraging them to try Colorado’s local products,” said Danielle Trotta, Colorado Proud Program Manager. “More than ever, it’s important for students to understand agriculture’s value, heritage, and history, as our future consumers and influencers.”
“CDE is proud to participate in grants and programs that help school districts bring local, fresh food to the students in their cafeterias,” said Anthes. “Access to delicious and nutritious food is a key to student success and I sincerely thank each agency, organization, farmer and school administrator that helps make healthy meals possible!”
Colorado farmers and ranchers produce food items that provide the nutrients children and adults need to thrive. Agriculture contributes $47 billion to Colorado’s economy annually and provides more than 195,000 jobs. With more than 38,900 farms and ranches encompassing 32 million acres, it is easy to understand the value this industry adds to Colorado.
Agriculture Materials for Colorado Teachers and Students
- Photos from Colorado Proud School Meal Day
- Video for Teachers, Students and Families with Local Recipes
- Colorado Kids Produce Activity Guide
- Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs
- Find Colorado Proud Products
- Using Colorado Market Maker for Farm to School Success Tip Sheet
- Colorado Agriculture Map for Kids
- Colorado Proud Fun Facts
- Learn About Colorado Agriculture
- Colorado Produce Calendar
- Colorado Farm Fresh Directory
- Colorado Dept of Education’s Farm to School and Summer Webpage
Colorado Proud Materials
- Colorado Proud Website
- Colorado Proud Facebook and Instagram
- Photos of farmers, farmers markets and local Colorado products
- Fact Sheet on Colorado Agriculture “By the Numbers”
- Editorial Backgrounder with “Tips for Buying Local Food”
- Recipes using Colorado ingredients
- Infographic with stats about how Coloradans feel about agriculture and food
- Colorado Agriculture brochure and background
- Colorado Proud logo
- Local Producer List to get connected with Colorado schools
–Colorado Department of Agriculture