Health
Building healthy kids and communities
Farm to school activities aim to provide healthy local food options and nutrition and food-based education to influence healthy eating behaviors and healthy lifestyles in children and their families. Success in this sector is measured by looking at student and family access to, awareness of, preferences for, and consumption of locally produced healthy food in schools and communities.
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESS LOCALLY PRODUCED, HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS
Student access to local, healthy foods in schools and preschools
Total dollar amount of all Oregon products purchased by child nutrition programs who were recipients of the Farm to School Procurement Grant in 2019-2020
Source: Data reported by Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Procurement grantees on their Grant Reports covering the 2019-2020 School Year.
Total dollar amount spent on Oregon products by type
Source: Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Procurement Grant Final/Baseline Report '19-20.
Number of students reached by the ODE Farm to School grant program
Source: Average daily lunch participation was for all of the school districts and CACFP sites that opted into the state farm to school procurement grant program in the 2019-2020 school year and all students served by ODE Education Grantees as reported on Education Grant Progress Report for the 2019-2020 school year.
Students reached by the ODE Farm to School grant program, broken down by race/ethnicity
Overall, 49% of Oregon students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Source: Oregon Department of Education data for student ethnicity by district for the districts that opted into the state Farm to School procurement grant program. 2019-2020
Number of school districts in Oregon that have an edible garden
Approximately 143 school districts in Oregon have at least one school garden.
Source: Oregon Department of Education school garden survey. 2019
Number of counties in Oregon with at least one school garden
All counties have school gardens.
Source: Oregon Department of Education school garden survey. 2019
Number of schools that incorporate school garden produce into cafeteria meals
At least 103 schools in these school districts incorporate school garden produce into cafeteria meals.
Source: Data reported by Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Procurement grantees on their Grant Reports covering the 2019-2020 School Year
Availability of state funding to districts in the state a.) for purchasing Oregon-grown and processed foods, b.) for food-based, agriculture-based, and garden-based educational activities, and c.) established as permanent/recurring in the state budget:
$10.2 million was allocated in the 2021 legislative session.
Number of school districts that purchase Oregon-grown/locally-grown or processed products
106 districts and 19 other child nutrition programs participated in the state Farm to School and School Garden procurement grant program.
Source: 106 school districts and 19 other child nutrition programs in Oregon, participating in the Oregon Department of Education's Farm to School Procurement grant reported purchasing Oregon foods in their grant reports covering the 19-20 School Year.
Percentage of school districts that have farm to school activities in pre-K settings
Source: USDA Farm to School Census. 2015
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESS LOCALLY PRODUCED, HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS
State government program and policy environments support local, healthy food access in schools for children
State agencies provide policies, procedures, and technical assistance to support incorporation of food from school gardens into school meals
Source: Oregon Department of Education provides technical assistance in this area, with emphasis on garden food safety with their School Garden Food safety training and documentation manual as a resource. 2019
State agencies are able to identify all school gardens and their contact people to disseminate technical assistance
Source: Oregon Department of Education school garden survey. 2019
Funding for farm to school and/or school garden programs and staff within Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is established as permanent/recurring in the state budget, and provides resources to these agencies to provide technical assistance and support at the school and district level
Source: Oregon House Bill 2800 (2007) and House Bill 2649 (2008)
State agencies provide policies, procedures, and technical assistance to support the incorporation of food from school gardens into school meals
Source: School Garden Food Safety Training & Documentation Manual. 2019
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESS LOCALLY PRODUCED, HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS
Student and family preferences for local, healthy foods
Increase in student and family willingness to try new local, healthy foods
Source: ODE Farm to School Education Grant Progress Report 18-19 School Year.
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESS LOCALLY PRODUCED, HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS
Family and adult access to local, healthy foods from farm to school program activities
Coordinated statewide efforts exist to increase parent and caregiver knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards purchasing Oregon foods that are promoted in schools
Source: Oregon Department of Education provides Oregon Harvest for Schools Family Newsletters. 2020
Number of parents or care-givers participating in farm to school activities, such as after-school programs, garden volunteers, field trips, nutrition and food-based learning, etc.
Source: Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Education Grant Progress Report. 2019-2020
Number of training and support opportunities for students and their families to grow and prepare their own food
Source: Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Education Grant Final Report. 2018-2019
