Farm to School

Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, culturally relevant foods and local food producers by supporting gardening, agricultural education, and local food purchasing at schools and early care and education sites. In our farm to school work, Ecotrust partners with a wide range of school districts to ensure that all children have access to healthy, local, and culturally relevant food. And we advocate for policies that strengthen food access, Oregon’s agricultural economy, create local jobs, and help build a culture of belonging. This work is focused at the intersections of equity, economy, and environment and happens in relation to broader efforts to advance equity in food systems and educational spaces.

Today, Ecotrust serves as the Portland Metro coordinator for the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network’s  Procurement Hub—a network of school food service directors and staff,  producers, distributors, community partners, and educators who come together to approach shared challenges and opportunities in purchasing, serving, and celebrating local food. As part of this statewide network of advocates, we also work to ensure the viability of Oregon’s Farm to Child Nutrition Programs grant program, which supports local purchasing, classroom and garden-based learning, and access to critical infrastructure for producers. Ecotrust also serves as a supporting partner of the National Farm to School Network.