Ontario is kicking off the third year of an innovative pilot that brings schools and local farmers together to raise funds for schools with healthy foods.
The Fresh from the Farm healthy fundraising pilot project promotes local food, healthy eating and student engagement within 28 school boards across the province.
Since 2013, more than 150 Ontario schools have participated in Fresh from the Farm. They have collectively distributed over 130,000 kilograms of fresh, local fruit and vegetables to Ontario families, and raised more than $125,000 for school initiatives.
Fresh from the Farm is committed to helping:
- Encourage healthy food choices
- Provide opportunities for learning about agriculture and food in the classroom
- Support local economies
- Align with Ontario's School Food and Beverage Policy and Ontario's Local Food Act
- Create great profit for schools - 40 per cent of all sales go directly to the school
Connecting students, farmers and communities is part of the government's economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Source: OMAFRA