WHEREAS, October is designated as National Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month for the purpose of promoting the importance of farm to school and early care and education activities; and
WHEREAS, research from the National Farm to School Network demonstrates that Farm to School and Early Care and Education (ECE) offers experiential educational opportunities for children and adolescents related to agriculture, health, and, nutrition and connects schools, early care and education sites, farms, educators, farmers, families, and communities to promote lifelong health and wellness; and
WHEREAS, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, nutrition, health education, and gardening play a critical role in educating North Carolina's children and adolescents about local food from production to consumption, instilling a respect for land and natural resources and food as a source of individual, family, and community well-being; and
WHEREAS, schools and early care and education sites provide a market for local agricultural producers, bringing development opportunities for regional food and agricultural economies, to create a more just food system; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School Census, 62.6 percent of North Carolina school food authorities report participating in farm to school activities and 81.7 percent report serving local food in school meals and snacks, reaching 2,087 schools and 1,263,360 students; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2021 North Carolina Farm to Early Care and Education Survey, 77 percent of respondents are already doing farm to ECE activities, including teaching lessons about local food (69 percent), serving local food in meals, snacks, or taste tests (64 percent), and gardening at the center/home (57 percent); and
WHEREAS, Farm to School and Early Care and Education benefits schools, early care and education sites, farms, and communities; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina, NC Farm to Preschool Network, early care and education sites, K-12 schools, and communities across the state in participating in the North Carolina Crunch to celebrate Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, offer children, adolescents, and adults the opportunity to taste and learn about locally grown produce, and recognize our essential frontline professionals involved in feeding our children and communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2022, as “FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.