Jami Nunn, Food and Nutrition Specialist has been partnering with the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy to implement Farm to Head Start in Tri-Valley Opportunity Councils Head Start centers.
Farm to Head Start works to connect early child care and education settings to local food producers with the objectives of serving locally-grown, healthy foods to young children, providing related nutrition education, and improving child nutrition.
Farm to Head Start activities can increase children’s willingness to try new foods and help them become familiar with local foods they will see in school.
Implementation started on June 5th where a focused produce item is incorporated into the menu every two weeks. Centers that implement the Farm to Head Start Curriculum will learn about the focused vegetable/fruit the beginning of the week, then it will be presented in the menu in varies different cooking methods. The pilot center implementing IATPs curriculum is St. Cloud. All other centers are encouraged to reach out to local farmers and incorporate curriculum revolving around farming and gardening.
Week of June 5 & 12: Asparagus
Week of June 19 & 26: Snap Peas & Snow Peas
Week of July 3: Strawberries
Week of July 10 & 17: Squash
Week of July 24 & 31: Green Beans
