St. Mary’s Schools to include locally-grown products in lunches

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) will celebrate Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week during the week of September 15-19, 2014 by including locally-grown products in school lunches.

Select schools will also host Farm-to-School activities. Lessons on healthy eating and farming will be delivered to students in the classroom leading up to a very exciting outside Farm-to-School event day. On the event day, interactive learning stations will be set up and manned by SMCPS staff, local farmers, 4-H club volunteers, and University of Maryland extension educators. Students will visit the interactive stations throughout the school day and will learn about agriculture, including animals, raising crops, and the benefits of eating a healthy diet.

Schools hosting events include Mechanicsville Elementary School on Monday, September 8, from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. and Lexington Park Elementary School on Tuesday, September 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. 

The program 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 is available at www.mda.state.md.us/mdfarmtoschool.