Minnesota schools and childcare centers to host Farm to School tours

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Mark Dayton has declared October “Farm to School Month” in Minnesota. To celebrate, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will visit a dozen schools and childcare centers throughout the state that have received and implemented MDA Farm to School AGRI Grant funds. These grants help schools purchase equipment that will enable them to serve more locally grown and raised foods, benefitting both students and agricultural producers throughout Minnesota.

What: Farm to School Month Tours

Who: Farm to School Grant awardees, farmers and producers, distributors, The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

When and Where:

October 4 – Century Middle School in Park Rapids at 11:30 a.m.

October 6 – Eden Prairie High School at 10:30 a.m., Richfield High School at 12:00 p.m.

October 10 – Dawson-Boyd Schools at 10:45 a.m., Lac Qui Parle Valley Secondary at 12:15 p.m.

October 13 – Dover-Eyota Elementary School at 11:00 a.m.

October 18 – Winona High School at 11:30 a.m.

October 24 – Westbrook-Walnut Grove Elementary School at 10:45 a.m.

October 26 – Playhouse Child Care Center in Monticello at 9:15 a.m., Sartell Senior High School at 11:15 a.m.

October 31 – Civic League Day Nursery in Rochester at 10:45 a.m., Kasson-Mantorville High School at 11:50 a.m.

Farm to School Grants are part of the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Program. The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota also commits funds to help schools meet the dollar-for-dollar match required by the grant program. For more information about Farm to School AGRI Grants, visit http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDA0LjY0NTgxOTcxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAwNC42NDU4MTk3MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODU5MDgwJmVtYWlsaWQ9aW5mb0ByZWRsYWtlbmF0aW9ubmV3cy5jb20mdXNlcmlkPWluZm9AcmVkbGFrZW5hdGlvbm5ld3MuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/mnfarmtoschool.aspx.