Local Food for Local Kids
Winters Farm to School is truly an inspiration for what happens when a community supports school meals serving locally grown fruits, vegetables and nuts. Winters Farm to School also supports school gardens, giving our kids hands-on experience with how those yummy fruits and vegetables reach their plates and a connection to the vibrant agricultural community which surrounds them.
About Us
Agricultural roots run deep in our small town. Winters is very proud of the contributions to agriculture that have come from our area. We want future generations to feel this connection as well.
Winters Farm to School is the result of a community movement that began in 2011. A group of visionaries wanted to connect the students in the Winters Joint Unified District to their agricultural roots by offering an abundance of locally grown fresh produce in our school meals.
By 2014 Winters Farm School had our own 501C3 designation.
Through our network of local growers we buy 65% of the fruits and vegetables offered by our food service from Yolo County growers. We encourage students to try new offerings on a regular basis, and chat with them almost daily on the benefits of including fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts in what they eat daily.
Our Programs
Education
Education is key! In the cafeteria, we encourage kids to make healthy food choices—just one bite can open the door to new favorites. Our school gardens give kids the experience of growing their own food, from planting seeds to harvesting lunch!
Gardens
Each school’s garden has its own unique focus, providing lessons a traditional classroom cannot. Students learn how food reaches the table and discover the vital role of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in a healthy ecosystem. The gardens provide an outdoor classroom, a place for not only science and math, but also art and music, or simply quiet reflection.
Procurement
With the $50,000+ that Winters Farm to School raises every year at our annual summer fundraiser, our School District’s Food Services Director purchases fresh, locally grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. We currently purchase fruits and veggies that are in season from nine farms in Yolo County. It doesn’t get much more local than that!
Local Food for Local Kids
Our Mission
Fostering Healthy Eating Habits
The mission of the Winters Farm to School program has three interrelated emphases: to raise funds to provide fresh, local produce, nuts and fruits for our children’s food programs in the Winters Joint Unified School District; to educate our school children about the positive, long-term health benefits of healthy eating habits; and to reconnect our school children to the rich, deeply rooted agricultural heritage in the Winters community.
Our Vision
Our vision is to bring together farmers, families, local businesses and community members to ensure that every child in the Winters Joint Unified School District has enough food to eat, and that the food provided at school will promote the health and well-being of every child.
