A big way the success of farm to school program success is measured is by gauging the amount of students who adapt their diet via the programs. A big initiative of farm to school is to introduce more variety into the diet of young people. More variety typically means more fruit and vegetables which means a healthier diet. In most farm to school programs observed, students did in fact begin to add more variety into their diet. This also occurs through the education portion of farm-to-school. When students are taught more about where food comes from they are more likely to enjoy a bigger variety of vegetables. Farm to school is still relatively small but is growing rapidly.
Farm-to-school programs increase the amount of local food served at schools. This is positive because it allows schools to bolster local farmers and vice versa. In addition, in many cases local foods are perceived as fresher as well as safer, thanks to media-attention-grabbing outbreaks of food borne illnesses attributed to the industrialized food process. Educational opportunities that tie-in the local food are abundant as well. If students are given the opportunity to visit the actual farm that produces the food they are served at lunch, it will give them a unique perspective about food production and possibly inspire them to continue to be curious as opposed to passive and ignorant regarding their own diet and nutrition.
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