Taste Washington Day

Here's a great farm to school opportunity for Washington farmers:

Seeking farms interested in selling to local schools for Taste Washington Day

Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm-to-School Program are partnering to celebrate Washington agriculture on September 29th with "Taste Washington Day". Schools around the state will be serving a locally-sourced meal and providing education and activities to celebrate the farms that feed us.

WSDA Farm-to-School Program will provide support to match up farms and schools and facilitate the purchasing process. We would love to include your farm as a participating farm. Many school nutrition directors are off for part of the summer, so we'd like to start the process as soon as possible.

WSNA has recommended the two menus below, or schools can make their own
menus. We encourage schools to try alternatives if they have willing
farm partners who grow other things. For instance, a district might
decide to use another kind of potato, or to do a bean or lentil chili,
or to add carrots with tops or another available vegetable to round out
the offerings.

Sample Menu 1:
Washington Baked Russet Potatoes
w/ Beef Chili and Cheese Toppings
Whole Wheat Breadstick
"Grown in Washington" Fruit Salad
Low Fat Milk

Sample Menu 2:
Hamburger w/ Cheese on a Whole Wheat Bun
Fresh Toppings: Tomatoes, Lettuce, Pickles
Fresh Corn on the Cob
"Grown in Washington" Fruit Salad
Low Fat Milk

We will also help schools add educational activities to the day, whether that's posters in the cafeteria, inviting a farmer to lunch, or visiting or lunching in a school garden. We want Washington's kids to spend that day considering the farmers who grow their food, and we want you to help us bring that to life!

For more information, to be listed as a participating farm, or to get help linking to your local school districts, please contact Tricia Kovacs, WSDA Farm-to-School Program Manager, at tkovacs@agr.wa.gov or 206-256-6150.