Leonardtown, MD – St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) will celebrate Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week during the week of September 25-29, 2017. On Tuesday, September 26, Ridge Elementary School will be hosting our annual celebration, which will include visits from local farmers and will feature local food in the cafeteria.
During this all-day event, various community partners will be participating with the SMCPS Department of Food & Nutrition Services. The University of Maryland Extension office staff will be bringing local farmers to the schools to teach students about the process involved in bringing food from farm to tray.
Additionally, we will have the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program in attendance to assist students through a planting activity. In an effort to combat childhood obesity and emphasize the role farms play in healthy eating and exercise, nutritional programs will teach children about the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle. This event will also allow students to sample local vegetable-based snacks.
Maryland Home Grown School Lunch Week aims to bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunch rooms and to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet.
More information about Maryland’s Farm to School initiative.