7 NE Ga. school systems recognized for Farm to School programs

ATLANTA - Twenty-five school districts, including seven in northeast Georgia, were honored Tuesday for supporting their local economies and increasing the amount of local food they serve to their students through Farm to School programs.

State Schools Supt. Dr. John Barge, state Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, and Georgia Organics Board President Rashid Nuri honored them for taking the "5 Million Meals Challenge" and pledging to serve more local food in their cafeterias.

In 2011, thanks to the work of dozens of Farm to School advocates, 3 million meals featuring locally produced food were served in more than 650 Georgia schools as part of a program to teach children where their food comes from and why that matters, and inspire them to eat more fruits and vegetables.

In October 2012, Georgia Organics and its partners launched the 5 Million Meals Challenge, a statewide effort to get 5 million meals made with locally grown food served in K-12 cafeterias across Georgia.

At a ceremony at the state Capitol Tuesday, Dr. Barge and Commissioner Black presented the schools and school systems that have taken the 5 Million Meals pledge with "The Golden Radish Award."

"Children learn better when their bodies and minds are fueled by nutritional meals. This program helps create a better school environment so that students can reach new heights academically," said Dr. Barge. "It also helps us expose children to science through agriculture. We must teach our children about an industry that is so critical to Georgia's economy in order to inspire the next generation of farmers and agricultural scientists."

"With great programs such as the Five Million Meals Challenge and Feed My School for week, students will discover the importance of agriculture through learning about the process that brings local produce and goods from an area farm to the cafeteria table - while at the same time receiving a healthy, delicious meal" said Commissioner Black. "These programs not only allow children more healthy alternatives and promote local producers, but also bring communities together for a great cause."

The 25 school systems (so far) are:

Appling County School System
Atlanta Public Schools
Baldwin County Schools
Bleckley County School District
Burke County Public Schools
Carrollton City Schools
Decatur City Schools
Clarke County School District
Cobb County School District
Commerce City Schools
Crisp County School System
Fulton County Schools
Grady County Schools
Habersham County Schools
Harris County School District
Hart County School System
Jackson County School System
Madison County School District
Marietta City Schools
Newton County Schools
Pickens County Schools
Rockdale County Public Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
Thomas County Schools
Tift County Schools

The Centers for Disease Control has identified Farm to School as a key strategy in addressing childhood obesity. But it's not just scientists and policymakers who are interested in farm to school