When School Lunch Is Actually Good Food

There are too many kids right here in California going to school hungry. That’s why I love reading about programs like this one. California’s Farm to School program is giving kids fresh, healthy food and connecting schools with the farmers who grow it. And the best part is that the kids are eating it and asking for more. 

The Farm to School program began in 2021 and, although it’s not yet in every school district, it now serves about 500 California school districts. It helps schools buy local food, gives students opportunities to visit farms, and trains cafeteria workers to prepare real meals instead of relying on empty-calorie foods like frozen pizza and soggy hot dogs.

The state has invested more than $1 billion in improving school meals since 2021. This month, it made Farm to School a permanent part of the Department of Food and Agriculture. 

What makes this program work is the people behind it. Food hubs connect schools with small farms and handle the ordering, deliveries, and paperwork. Farmers get a more dependable market for what they grow. Cafeteria workers get better ingredients and training. And kids get food that’s nutritious and they actually want to eat. 

Every child deserves healthy food, and if schools are going to provide meals, those meals should be wholesome and worth eating. I’m excited to see California’s Farm to School program working, and I hope to see it grow throughout the state. 

If you like this program as much as I do, let your state representative know you want to see it in your school district. And if you live outside California, ask your state representative why your state doesn’t have a Farm to School program. All children are worth the investment.