A Snapshot of Farm to School Efforts in North Dakota

(Pixabay via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – North Dakota sits above the national average for districts participating in its Farm to School program and officials said local success reflects the state’s strong relationship with agriculture and how it is often linked to education.

The Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota brought together partners for a recent update on the program. Nearly 80% of School Food Authorities around the state take advantage of resources to make it easier for them to buy farm-fresh food from local producers.

Amanda Olson, farm-to-school specialist for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, said it is not just beef, poultry and milk.

“We have a lot of great local bakeries in some of our smallest towns,” Olson pointed out. “A lot of people are purchasing the dough and then they’re baking it themselves.”