Farm to School Counts
This article is pulled from episode 2-44 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. Krishna Bhattarai spent years managing finances for Marion County, Oregon before a chance encounter at a garage sale changed everything. Today, as founder of Happy Curry Foods, he brings…
This article is pulled from episode 2-45 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. Lucy DeLeon’s journey from picking crops as a child migrant worker to feeding tens of thousands of Oregon students authentic tamales demonstrates how cultural food traditions can transform school…
This article is pulled from episode 2-48 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. What happens when school administrators, cafeteria managers, teachers, and students spend three intensive days together planning how to integrate local food throughout their school culture? The Oregon Farm to…
This article is pulled from episode 1-5 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. From a dyslexic teenager with an eighth-grade reading level to a doctorate from Tufts University and architect of Oregon’s farm to school infrastructure—Michelle Markesteyn’s journey demonstrates how personal passion…
This article is pulled from episode 1-14 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. School wellness policies might sound like bureaucratic paperwork, but they’re actually powerful tools for advancing farm to school and school garden programs. Jennifer Young, School Wellness Policy Coordinator at…
This article is pulled from episode 1-6 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. What happens when a rural charter school hires a full-time school garden coordinator with a vision for regenerative farming and social justice through education? Lua Siegel shares how she…
This article is pulled from episode 1-3 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. School gardens can transform entire communities, but what happens when a thriving program loses its champion? Kelly Douglas, former school garden coordinator at Molalla High School, shares the remarkable…
Farm to school programs connect students with fresh, local foods while teaching them about agriculture and nutrition. But what exactly does “farm to school” mean, and how do these programs work in practice? Oregon’s farm to school coordinators Rick Sherman and Michelle Markesteyn break down this growing movement in schools and child nutrition programs across…
Discover how local Oregon food producers are connecting with schools and expanding their market reach through the Oregon Harvest for Schools program. In this video, four diverse Oregon businesses share their firsthand experiences selling to school districts and the impact farm to school programs have had on their operations. Featured Oregon Producers: These producer testimonials…
This article is pulled from episode 1-1 of The Farm to School Podcast hosted by Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman. For the full episode and transcript, click here. Rural school districts often believe farm to school programs are impossible in remote areas without robust distribution networks or nearby farmers. Rikkilynn Starliper, Nutrition Services Director for…
When students asked for pozole on their school lunch menu, Umatilla School District listened, and the results transformed their cafeteria program. This student-driven approach to menu development showcases how incorporating traditional foods and centering student voices can dramatically improve school meal participation and cultural connection. Students Lead Menu Innovation In the winter of 2023, FoodCorps…
Oregon school garden educators are embracing a transformative approach to farm to school programming by learning to incorporate traditional and indigenous foods in respectful, authentic ways. The Oregon Farm to School Network (OFSN) and Tahoma Peak Solutions has launched an innovative 10-month teaching cohort that connects educators with indigenous plant knowledge and culturally responsive curriculum.…