Union County Farm to School: May Is Spring Greens Month
Oregon Rural action, in partnership with OHSU School of Nursing, is kicking off the new Harvest of the Month program. The goal of Harvest of the Month is to expose students to seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as to the people who grow them. Each month nursing students, local farmers, and community volunteers will visit schools during lunchtime and serve samples of a featured fruit or vegetable.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2010
Contact:
Teresa Roark, Community Organizer, Oregon Rural Action
541-975-2411 or teresa@oregonrural.org
Farm to School Program: May Is Spring Greens Month
Oregon Rural action, in partnership with OHSU School of Nursing, is kicking off the new Harvest of the Month program. The goal of Harvest of the Month is to expose students to seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as to the people who grow them.
Each month nursing students, local farmers, and community volunteers will visit schools during lunchtime and serve samples of a featured fruit or vegetable. OHSU Nursing students have designed colorful handouts that will give information about the item and how to prepare it. May is Spring Greens month. Spinach will be purchased from Paul Castoldi, a vendor at the Walla Walla Farmers Market. Oregon Rural Action is in the process of lining up local producers to purchase from for the next school year. For information on how to get involved and to view the calendar of featured fruits and vegetables visit Oregon Rural Action's website at: www.oregonrural.org/issues/farm-to-school.
The program is an outcome of the March 5th Farm to School workshop that Oregon Rural Action sponsored with U.C. Fit Kids. The Union County Farm to School project is the first in Eastern Oregon. The goal is to ensure that all students in Union County have access to nutritious school meals that connect them with the agricultural economy of the area and support local foods and farmers.
Tasting tables are currently scheduled at:
North Powder - May 10th
Imbler - May 11th
Union - May 19th
Harvest of the Month provides an exciting opportunity for local businesses throughout Oregon. Through sponsorship businesses are able to include their name and logo on Harvest of the Month handouts distributed to students, as well as on the Farm to School website. For information on how to become a sponsor contact Teresa at (541) 975-2411.
###
