Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Gary Black, is praising 53 school districts around the Peach State for coming together to serve over 1 million Georgia students through the farm-to-school program.
The movement was recognized through the Golden Radish Awards and penetrated almost one third of Georgia’s public schools. The initiative focuses on local food procurement, taste testing, and gardening. The approach also has a focus on supporting local food purchases, fighting childhood obesity, and using food as a combatant to disease.
“It is incredible to see the growth of farm to school programs in the last few years,” stated Alice Rolls, Georgia Organics Executive Director, in a press release. “Every day, children across our state are getting the opportunity to grow and taste Georgia food in school. I’m excited to see Georgia’s schools invest in Georgia farmers and in our children at the same time.”
Georgia’s School Superintendent Richard Woods also praised the program saying the program allows Georgia students to learn about Georgia’s number one industry: agriculture.
“Our ultimate goal here at the department is for communities to take ownership of their school cafeterias, similarly to how we all push for excellence in the classroom, the arts and athletics,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. “We are proud to have so many Georgia Grown Feed My School participants recognized here today and are excited as to what current and future Golden Radish Award winners will accomplish as we work toward our 2020 Vision for School Nutrition in Georgia.”
During the 2015-2016 school year, school districts collectively:
Served 39 million school meals that included local food
Held 8,246 taste tests of fresh, local food to students
Taught 3,406 garden, food and nutrition lessons to students
Tended 575 edible school gardens
Hosted 1,935 hands-on cooking activities with students
Incorporated farm to school into 390 staff professional development opportunities
Championed and sustained district-wide policies or procedures into 29 schools districts
The 53 school systems being recognized are:
Gold Level
Atlanta Public Schools
Barrow County School System
Bibb County School District
Bleckley County School District
Burke County Public School System
Carrollton City Schools
Cherokee County School District
City Schools of Decatur
Clarke County School District
Dougherty County School System
Elbert County School District
Fannin County School System
Fulton County Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Habersham County Schools
Jackson County Schools
Laurens County Schools
Sumter County Schools
Tift County Schools
Silver Level
Bartow County School System
Cobb County School District
Effingham County Schools
Fayette County Public Schools
Forsyth County Schools
Hart County Schools
Newton County Schools
Rabun County Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
Treutlen County Schools
Bronze Level
Brantley County School District
Commerce City Schools
Dade County Schools
DeKalb County School District
Gainesville City School System
Madison County School District
Marietta City Schools
Paulding County School District
Toombs County Schools
Warren County Public Schools
Honorary Level
Buford City Schools
Cartersville City School District
Coffee County School System
Columbia County School District
Crisp County School System
Dalton Public Schools
Franklin County Schools
Hall County Schools
Henry County Schools
Lee County School District
Morgan County Charter School System
Muscogee County School District
Ware County Schools
Worth County Schools