Inspired by the National Farm to School Conference!
Posted: May 28, 2019
Categories: Edible Education Network / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario
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he National Farm to School Conference, jointly organized by Farm to Cafeteria Canada and the Public Health Association of BC, was held from May 15-17 2019 in Victoria, BC. The event set out to illuminate and to celebrate how individuals and organizations across the country are bringing the local harvest into school classrooms and cafeterias.
The conference included:
- A day of tours to schools and shores, including a wild harvest foraging workshop, a tour on Salt Spring Island, and a trip that highlighted approaches to Indigenous food sovereignty and ecosystem restoration.
- Lightning talks from representatives who spoke about rich farm to school activities happening across the country and in the United States.
- Activities and conversations where participants shared their experience, their big ideas, useful evaluation tools, and activities that they’ll be taking action on in the future.
- A wide range of breakout sessions where schools and organizations, projects and a wide range of champions, shared their stories and insights.
- A focus on gathering participant insights to inform the development of a Farm to School Evaluation Framework for Canada.
Other exciting highlights included:
A presentation made at the close of the first day where Nona Evans, the CEO of the Whole Kids Foundation, and Grant Daisley, Communications Director for Whole Foods Market, announced another $500K investment to enable schools across Canada to bring the local harvest into their cafeterias.- A video of Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Honourable Marie Claude Bibeaum, where she endorsed the F2S vision and shared how Canada’s National Food Policy will support that vision by providing funds for local food infrastructure and by initiating a dialogue towards the creation of a national school food program.
Participants left the event feeling greatly inspired to continue to move forward their Farm to School efforts.
For more of a recap about the event, check out the Conference Program, the ongoing Twitter conversation at #F2SConferenceCanada19, and the Facebook Photo Album that shares a visual narrative of the event.
Proceedings to come soon!