Get ready. Get Set. Crunch. re:TH!NK Farm to School and
Oaklawn Elementary joined students of all ages, from preschool to college, along
with individuals across the Great Lakes Region states of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio in celebrating National Farm to
School Month and Food Day by participating in a very exciting event called the
first annual “Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch”, on October 23rd.
Just like “Earth Day”, Food Day is on it’s way to becoming a
national holiday. Food Day is typically celebrated October 24th with
a message to inspire Americans to change their diets and food policies. October
is also National Farm to School month and is the perfect time to introduce
nutritious local foods in schools. The first annual Great Lakes Great Apple
Crunch is a great way to celebrate Food Day and National Farm to School Month.
This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports Farm to School
and other local food purchasing initiatives throughout the region.
Joined by Todd Hanson,
the owner of Apple Blossom Orchard and Market, and Alice in Dairyland, the most recognizable spokesperson of
Wisconsin agriculture, approximately 130 4th and 5th
grade students bit into a locally grown apple after a countdown by the farmer.
Todd spoke about his farm and the apples, while Alice discussed Wisconsin
agriculture and why we celebrate Farm to School Month. Everyone who participated in the event, including the food service director Peggy West, and Scott Johanknecht, thought the
Honeycrisp apples were delicious. One student claimed, “this apple tastes
better than my cookie”. Another student said, “this apple is a lot better than
the usual snack apples I eat”. The students had a lot of fun with this event as
they not only enjoyed the apples, but learned a lot about Wisconsin agriculture
and how apples grow.
Why celebrate Food Day? America’s food system contributes to childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, other health related problems and promotes environmental degradation, unfair working conditions, and animal cruelty. With America’s resources, there’s no excuse for hunger, diet-related diseases, low wages for food and farm workers, or inhumane condition for farm animals.
Join the Movement! All of us are united by a vision of food
that is healthy, affordable, and produced with care for the environment, farm
animals, and the people who grow, harvest, and serve it. We envision a just
food system for all and want to celebrate it when it works and help fix it when
it’s broken.
For more information on Farm to School or the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch click here.
Want to know more about Food Day? click here.