Farm to School

In 2008, Saint Paul Public Schools joined a national partnership funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and called Food FOCUS, or Food Options for Children in Urban Schools.

School Food FOCUS involves urban school districts, researchers and other experts working together to identify new systems and strategies to increase the amount of local and sustainable food served to school children.

We are proud to serve the following locally grown items this fall:

apples
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
coleslaw
corn on the cob
cucumbers
onions
peppers
watermelon
zucchini

We are grateful to the farmers at Riverside Farms in Elk River, Vine Valley Farms in Anoka, John Svihel Vegetable Farm Inc. in Foley and Pepin Heights in Lake City for growing food for Saint Paul students!

On November 3, 2009, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Nutrition Services to learn more about the successes and challenges in offering locally-grown products. Read more...