MD: PROGRAM BRINGS FRESH FOOD TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
News Date September 15, 2009
School lunches are getting a makeover this fall with more interesting and more nutritious foods. School children in hundreds of public schools across Maryland will get a taste of fresh, Maryland-grown and produced food in their lunches during the second annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, September 14-18.
A kick-off celebration is planned with special classroom educational activities and local lunch with students, farmers, and federal, state and local officials The Homegrown School Lunch Week, an element of the Jane Lawton Farm to School Program, was created during the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly when SB 158 Farm-to-School Program was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley. The program is designed to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet as well as to expand markets for Maryland farmers.
More information: www.marylandfarmtoschool.org (Contact: Sue duPont, MDA, 410-841-5889; Julie Oberg, MDA, 410-841-5888 or Bill Reinhard, MSDE, 410-767-0486)