Texas Department of Agriculture Website > Home > Healthy Living > Farm Fresh Fridays > For Parents and Families
Help Your School Go Farm Fresh

Farm to school programs bring local foods to the school cafeteria and agricultural education to K-12 students, encouraging children to make healthy food choices and inspiring sustainable connections to local food, while helping to boost the local economy.

Parents and family members play a vital role in successful farm to school projects. Your involvement can help:

● Increase the number of local products served in school meals

● Incorporate classroom or garden-based education teaching students about food, health, agriculture and nutrition

With your help, the children in your community can access more healthy, local foods and build a foundation for lifelong, healthy lifestyles. TDA resources are available to guide your involvement -- whether your school has an existing program or needs help getting one off the ground.
   Spotlight Content
 
Making the Farm Fresh Choice Video
(Click the Photo)

Farm to School Planning Guide
(Click the photo)
Produce Safety Begins with You. Wash Your Produce Before You Eat it.   Minimize  

Whether you buy your produce direct Image of washing melonfrom the farm, your local grocery store, farmers market or you harvest it from your own backyard, it is important to wash it before you eat it.

Texas farmers work hard to produce your food under the strict guidelines of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule. Do your part at school, work and at home by washing produce before you eat it.

Why Wash?
Fruits and vegetables are grown in soil. Washing can ensure that all debris is removed before enjoyment.

Many hands have touched your food between harvest and eating. Washing helps to prevent the spread of food borne pathogens.

Remember, Texas Agriculture Matters! So clean it before you eat it, Texas!

Produce safety information card  Produce safety information card 

Check out the
Parent Involvement Guide


En Español


Find Registered 
Farmers and Ranchers


Farm Fresh at Magnolia ISD



Farm Fresh in Northeast Texas



Wash Your Produce – Vegetable Salad 

En Español 
English


Wash Your Produce – Fruit Salad 

En Español
English 

More Resources   Maximize  

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

   
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COMMISSIONER SID MILLER