Governor Proclaims Farm to School and Early Care Education Month 2021

WHEREAS, Farm to School provides educational opportunities for children and adolescents related to agriculture, health and nutrition and connects schools, early care and education (ECE) sites, farms, educators, farmers, families, and communities to improve student nutrition, health, and learning; and

WHEREAS, Farm to School programs purchase local food for meals and provide a market for local agricultural producers, bringing development opportunities for regional food and agricultural economies; 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 and 81.7 percent report serving local food in school meals and snacks, reaching 2,087 schools and 1,263,360 students; and

WHEREAS, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, nutrition and health education 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, Farm to School benefits schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and federal legislation designated October as National Farm to School Month for the purpose of promoting the importance of farm to school and early care and education activities; and

WHEREAS, Farm to School Month offers an opportunity to recognize and honor all those who contribute to feeding our children and communities – from farmers, farm workers, and food hub distributors, to school and early care nutrition professionals, educators, garden coordinators, bus drivers and transportation professionals; 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 as well as Education Month, to offer children, adolescents, and adults the opportunity to taste and learn about locally grown produce, and recognize our essential front-line professionals involved in feeding our children and communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2021, as “FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CARE EDUCATION MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.