During a recent government meeting, Bob Gorman, Executive Director of School Nutrition for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), presented updates on the district's Farm to School program, coinciding with Farm to School Month. Gorman emphasized the initiative's goal of teaching students healthy eating habits through hands-on experiences, such as planting and harvesting crops.

The program consists of four key components: school gardens, local procurement, experiential education, and food and agriculture curriculum. Gorman illustrated the program's effectiveness by highlighting the connection students make with locally sourced foods, such as Sun Gold tomatoes, which they are more likely to try after engaging in the growing process. He noted that the district has significantly increased its local food purchasing, from under $100,000 to $350,000, expanding the variety of produce offered in school cafeterias.

Rebecca Rodriguez, the Farm to School Manager, introduced the FoodCorps program, which aims to enhance classroom and community engagement through initiatives like hydroponic farming and fresh fruit and vegetable snack programs. Together, these efforts are designed to foster a deeper understanding of nutrition and food sourcing among students, ultimately aiming to instill lifelong healthy eating habits.