The Problem
The problem we want to fix is the lack of fresh, affordable, and nutritious produce in schools. During the school year, the public school system commonly provides their students with breakfast and lunch- 2 out of the 3 meals for the day. Of those options, there is a lack of fresh produce. Fresh produce can be difficult to access due to a lack of resources, such as finances or a local source of produce. Additionally, making sure the food is prepared safely and efficiently for these children can be another barrier. We aim to resolve this by providing a local source for fresh produce, as well as a kitchen to process the food for consumption. Not only will this project fill that gap, but it will provide children an education opportunity to learn more about their local food system, as well.
Our Plan
In collaboration with Hope Charter School and Legacy High School (Ocoee, FL), the plan is to put in a farm, processing facility (kitchen), and present the harvest to their school cafeteria. The goal is to provide the children with access to fresh produce and hands-on educational experiences involving agriculture and nutrition. Part 1 of the project is completed and in its pilot phase. In order for the project to be completed, they need help in funding the second part- the kitchen/processing facility. When using the term “processing,” we mean to wash the produce in the garden and prepare it for kids to eat. We want to encourage children to eat what they’ve grown, so children will be getting their food in the healthiest, truest form. Through funding and support in completing the kitchen, we live up to the project title, “Farm to Table School Cafeteria.”