Why Oregon Leads the Nation in Farm to School: Celebrating Our Collective Crunch and What It Means for Our Kids
Oregon is cultivating the next generation of healthy eaters and agricultural stewards – one delicious crunch at a time.
What does it sound like when an entire state comes together to celebrate healthy eating and local agriculture? On October 23, 2025, you’ll find out. From the coastal ranges to the high desert, from urban Portland classrooms to rural Eastern Oregon schools, thousands of Oregon students will participate in a remarkable moment of unity, simultaneously biting into fresh, locally grown produce in our state’s annual Crunch At Once celebration.
This isn’t just about making noise. It’s about Oregon demonstrating why we’re recognized as a national leader in connecting children to the land, supporting local farmers, and building food systems that work for everyone. It’s about celebrating what makes our state special and why Oregonians should feel deeply proud of the groundbreaking work happening in schools across our beautiful state.
October is National Farm to School Month
While other states are just beginning to explore farm to school programs, Oregon has been pioneering this movement for years. Since 2013, we’ve grown from just a dozen schools purchasing local foods to 89% incorporating local foods into meals and snacks, backed by over $40 million invested by the Oregon State Legislature and ongoing unanimous non-partisan legislative support that has made Oregon the national model for connecting schools with local agriculture.
National Farm to School Month happens every October, but in Oregon, we make it extra special. Throughout the month, schools across our state host farm field trips, school garden harvests, taste tests featuring local foods, cooking demonstrations, and educational activities that connect students to agriculture.
Last Year’s Success
In 2024, Oregon’s Crunch At Once reached incredible heights, with more than 40,000 preK-12 students signed up for the event across the state. The synchronized celebration on October 17, 2024, generated significant media attention and demonstrated the power of statewide coordination in farm to school programming.
This year, we’re dreaming bigger. Our goal is to have every school district in Oregon participate in Crunch At Once 2025, creating the largest synchronized healthy eating event in our state’s history. We envision students from Astoria to Ontario, from Bend to Brookings, all crunching together in celebration of Oregon agriculture.
Register your school for this year’s Crunch At Once →
Our Vision for 2025 and Beyond: A Decade of Transformation
But our vision extends far beyond just one day in October. Oregon recently completed a comprehensive statewide planning process that engaged 849 individuals across our state to develop a bold 10-Year Strategic Vision for Oregon Farm to School. This shared vision is ambitious yet achievable: over the next decade, farm to school will equitably improve child health and well-being, support academic achievement, promote market resilience, and invigorate Oregon’s agricultural economy.
We’re working toward a future where:
- Every Oregon school has access to fresh, local produce year-round
- Every student learns about agriculture and nutrition through hands-on experiences
- Every farmer has opportunities to connect with schools and share their knowledge
- Every community celebrates the connections between local food, health, and economic vitality
This isn’t just wishful thinking, it’s a strategic roadmap backed by data, community input, and the proven track record of Oregon’s farm to school success. The planning process that created this vision included voices from across Oregon, with participants providing over 1,400 opinions and hundreds of comments to ensure our strategic vision reflects diverse perspectives and community needs.
Sign up for the Movement Meeting on October 29th to hear about the goals and the strategies to make it happen.
Together, we’re cultivating Oregon’s future, one crunch at a time.
Want to stay connected to Oregon’s farm to school movement? Sign up for our newsletter at oregonfarmtoschool.org or follow us on Instagram @OregonFarmToSchool to see the incredible work happening in schools across our state.