TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher will visit the Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center in Burlington County today to call attention to October being National Farm to School Month.
During the 2017-18 school year, the influence of the Jersey Fresh Farm to School Program led to 255 schools purchasing some local produce from their main distributor, 223 districts buying local produce directly from farms, 212 districts using a curriculum that ties cafeteria meals to healthy eating education and 114 districts organizing field trips to farms.
The Fernbrook Farms Educational Center’s mission is to provide hands–on educational experiences for all young people by exploring the complex interconnectedness of the natural world. The Center’s purpose is to educate children about food, agriculture and the environment. The Center will be hosting a local school visit on Monday that which feature four stations, which will include its garden used to supply its Community Supported Agriculture program.
Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week, which was established by law in 2010 to bring attention to the Farm to School Program, was celebrated on Sept. 24-28. The Farm to School program helps connect schools to local farmers to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students during the school day.
For more information on the New Jersey Farm to School Program, visit www.farmtoschool.nj.gov.
Secretary Fisher will visit the Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center today at 10 a.m. at 142 Bordentown Georgetown Rd, Columbus, NJ 08022.
— New Jersey Department of Agriculture