Farm to School in Indian Country

Farm to school practices are always instituted at the local level because each community has its own set of unique challenges, needs and opportunities. Schools serving Native American communities are a great example of this. A number of Native communities across the country are turning to farm to school practices as a mean to preserve Native food and agricultural traditions while addressing the disproportionately high rates of food-related illnesses and food insecurity they face.

Jesse Padron of the Oneida Nation School System offers these highlights from their farm to school program:

• During the 2013-1014 school year 100 percent of our beef purchases came from our Oneida Nation farms.

• So far 800 pounds of American buffalo has been purchased from our Oneida Nation farms.

• Farm to school flyers highlighting the Harvest of the Month were sent home to parents.

• We purchased apples, melons, pears, squash, berries and asparagus from our Oneida Nation orchard.

• We are harvesting potatoes this week from our high school garden.

• We continue to harvest of tomatoes, green peppers and jalapeños from our high school garden.

• We purchase white corn (in various forms) from our Tsunhehkw for making corn soup, bread and corn/berry mush.

To learn more about Farm to School in Indian Country, explore the resources offered by today’s Theme of the Day Partner, the First Nations Development Institute: http://www.firstnations.org/KnowledgeCenter/NativeAmericanFoodsAndHealth