Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources Commissioner, John Lebeaux

In what ways do you think building a relationship between a farm or fishery would benefit a school and student population? 

Building relationships between schools and farms and fisheries can benefit the school and students in many ways.  It creates opportunities to bring local food into the school meals program and provides additional access for students to nutritious, high-quality food. It also offers an opportunity for students to try new foods through programs like Mass. Farm to School’s Harvest of the Month Program which can increase interest and participation in the school’s meal program. These relationships can help students get to know their local farmer or fisher and learn about where their food comes from. Farm to School also affords educational opportunities and opportunities for experiential learning such as farmer visits to the school, field trips to local farms or through school gardens.

How would you encourage more of our students and schools to get involved in farming and agriculture and the Farm to School movement? 

There are a lot of ways students and schools can get involved with agriculture and the Farm to School movement. For example, if the school has a garden, it can be a great way to learn about growing fruits or vegetables, or students can visit local farms in the area where there are a lot of agritourism activities for the whole family to enjoy.  Check the MassGrown website for farms to visit at www.mass.gov/massgrown. Students can experience farm life by engaging with the farm staff and those that produce the fine products right here in Massachusetts. These opportunities will further educate students and help them develop an appreciation for the importance of having access to local food. 

Students can also look for opportunities to become involved with local agriculture or Farm to School. Students can talk with parents, teachers, or school meal program leaders. They can learn about programs that provide resources to students, teachers, and food service staff on the importance of eating healthy and delicious local foods. Organizations such as the Massachusetts State Grange, the Master Gardeners Program, Massachusetts 4-H organization, Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom and the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension all provide programing/events for those wanting to further their knowledge on growing local food and its’ preparation. 

Additionally, Massachusetts has four accredited agricultural high schools in Massachusetts where students can explore high school programs focused in specific areas of interest pertaining to agriculture and the environment.  Such careers that may result include those involved in horticulture/landscape & design, veterinarian medicine, and environmental management.  These schools are in Essex County, Norfolk County, Bristol County and Hampshire County. 

Students can also seek out opportunities in their area with community gardens and/or community farms. Some offer volunteer opportunities including programs for all ages. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for employment with area farms, nurseries, or garden centers. Contact organizations like Mass. Farm to School or Agriculture in the Classroom to learn about ways to get involved. 

How does the Farm to School movement impact agriculture in Massachusetts? 

Massachusetts has 7,241 farms on 491,653 acres of land. The agricultural industry directly provides employment to 25,920 individuals and produces an annual market value of over $475 million in agricultural goods. Farm to School helps to support these local farms and businesses which enhances the local economy and increases jobs. Farm to School provides additional markets for Massachusetts farmers which helps to keep them economically viable. In turn, this helps protect farmland and open space from development.

81% of the respondents in latest USDA Farm to School Census reported serving local foods in their school meals at 1,184 schools and reaching over 594,000 students. Farm to School helps to educate our state’s children about agriculture, growing food, and healthy eating.  They are tomorrow’s shoppers at farmers markets and farm stands!