Vancouver, WA ‒ Clark County Public Health received a two-year, $100,000 grant from the United Stated Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program to pay for a project to connect Vancouver Public Schools students with more regionally sourced food and food system education. The grant takes effect Dec. 1.

Through this project, public health staff will engage key partners to identify regional food sources and establish farm-to-school connections. Under the grant, Washington State University Clark County Extension will develop a farm-to-fork curriculum and host “farm field” trips for elementary students. Field trips to the 78th Street Heritage Farm will teach children the connection between farms, food and health.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to partner with Vancouver Public Schools and WSU Extension to support local agriculture, engage students in hands-on learning, and improve their access to healthy, regional food,” said Alan Melnick, health officer and director of Clark County Public Health.

Mari Ovens, the district’s director of Nutrition Services, said Vancouver schools offer a wide variety of food choices to help students develop life-long healthy eating habits.

“This grant will support us in our goal to incorporate even more regionally produced foods in our menus while providing a valuable educational experience to benefit our students now and in the future,” she said.

USDA Farm to School Census results indicate schools across the nation have invested nearly $600 million in local products, ensuring a significant and reliable market for local farmers and ranchers. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov.

CONTACT
Dr. Alan Melnick
Health Officer/Public Health Director
Public Health
(360) 397-8412
alan.melnick@clark.wa.gov