Field Notes: Farm to School Outreach in Southern Indiana

FARMWISE Indiana is proud to lead efforts in southern Indiana as the Regional Lead for farm to school. Directly tied to the Indiana Grown for Schools Network, we are working with some amazing partners to find out just how much farm to school is happening in southern Indiana, and how we can connect people to each other and the resources available.

So, What is Farm to School?

According to the USDA, who has been promoting and funding farm to school efforts for over 2 decades, there are three main areas:

1) Local food procurement for the school cafeteria

2) Food and agricultural education in the classroom

3) School gardens and growing food for hands-on learning.

From now through August, FARMWISE Indiana is assessing what the 91+ school districts and independent schools are doing across the southern part of Indiana. We are working with some amazing partners to gather the information and we would like to visit with you to learn more about what you are doing, or what you would like to do if you are a school food service director, school administrator, or corporation superintendent in southern Indiana.

We are working with Thrive Well Strategies, Food and Growers Association, and the Madison Community Grocery Project to visit with as many schools as possible in the next few months!

How Can You Get Involved?

If you are souring locally grown or raised foods, or know someone who is, please reach out to hello@farmwiseindiana.org to connect them with our team of people who are incredibly committed to farm to school in all aspects. 

If you are in the southern region of Indiana and affiliated with school adminstration or school food service, take our survey here: https://farmwiseindiana.questionpro.com/t/Ac8I1Z8RUT

Learn more from the Indiana Grown for Schools Network and their vast number of resources and ways to engage. The network is led by the Indiana Departments of Health and Education with partners from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture,Northwest Indiana Food Council, Parkview Health, FARMWISE Indiana, Purdue Extension, and more.

Jodee Smith

FARMWISE Indiana

Executive Director