Inspiring Local Food Connections

The “Inspiring Local Food Connections (ILFC)” project will support and expand farm to school procurement and education and inspire the next generation of food systems advocates by providing resources and technical assistance to Oceanside Unified School District and Fallbrook Union High School District. The ILFC project will also help the districts build farm to school education opportunities for students through video and activity development in partnership with local restaurant owners, chefs, farmers, culinary and school garden educators, and food systems advocates.

Project Partners

Project Funding

These efforts are funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm Fork through their California Farm to School Incubator Grant.

Harvest of the Month Resources

Enjoy 24 HOTM handouts that include: fun facts, food waste prevention strategies, healthy serving ideas, common varieties, activities and recipes!

Carrots

Cauliflower

Grapes

Pepper

Persimmon

Tomatoes

Apple

Beets

Kiwi

Kumquats

Oranges

Squash

Berries

Cucumbers

Grapefruit

Herbs

Peas

Strawberries

Avocados 

Beans

Guavas

Stone Fruit

Squash

Watermelon

Flourishing Wellness Through Farm to School

The Flourishing Wellness Through Farm to School resource was developed in collaboration with the School Food Policy committee, a subcommittee of the San Diego Farm to School Taskforce. Committee members included: Barbara Hughes (County of San Diego, HHSA), Deirdre Kleske (County of San Diego, HHSA), Sally Spero (School Food & Child Nutrition Professional), and Janelle Manzano (San Diego Unified School District).  This resource covers the following topics: Edible & Educational Gardens, Garden Access For All, Beyond Growing Food, Joint-Use School-Community Gardens, Taste Tests, Cooking in the Classroom, Physical Activity, Mental Health, Social & Emotional Health, Assisting Educators, Resources & Supporting Organizations.

Farm to School Video Series

Farmer Video Series

Culinary Video Series

Taste Test

To provide school district kitchen staff with the confidence to incorporate culturally relevant menu recipes into their school meal offerings, the ILFC project partnered with Chef Christina Ng from the Berry Good Food Foundation.

Professional Development Trainings

To provide school district kitchen staff with the knowledge and skills to handle, process, and fully utilize their local produce, O’side Kitchen Collaborative presented on zero waste cooking, composting, and seed saving practices. To learn more about O’side Kitchen Collaborative, visit www.theokc.org

Local Produce Procurement

To familiarize school district partners with the seasonal produce options that are available from local producers, Foodshed provided “Fresh Five” Produce Bags for Child Nutrition Service Staff to enjoy!

To learn more about Foodshed, visit www.foodshedsmallfarmdistro.com

Grab & Grow Garden Kits

Growing your own food is an experience unlike any other! Students at Fallbrook High, Libby Elementary and Lincoln Middle School received Grab & Grow kits. These kits included: tomato, tomatillo, and pepper plans, growing instructions (in English and Spanish) and a seed saving activity.

To learn more about Healthy Day Partners, and Grab & Grow kits, click here.