Presenters: Marissa B. Spady & Nora Farrell (The Planning Council), Jake Browder (Browder’s Fresh Pickins LLC)
Farm to Childcare is an emerging opportunity within the broader theme of Farm to Institution that connects infants and young children to local produce farmers. The goals are to improve child nutrition, decrease childhood obesity and hunger and lastly, to improve local economic activity. This program aims to increase children's consumption of fresh, local produce through procurement, gardening and education. This Coffee Talk will focus on a Farm to Childcare (F2CC) program operating in rural Virginia. Marissa Spady and Nora Farrell of The Planning Council will share the program's goals, objectives, and pilot activities, as well as lessons learned and how to overcome community-specific challenges. They will also describe the tools and resources that are supporting this pilot program. Marissa and Nora will be joined by a local farmer, Jake Browder of Browder's Fresh Pickins LLC in Smithfield, VA, who is partnering with the program to provide fresh produce and creative opportunities for the community to come together. The presentation will be framed by background on the F2CC program, including emerging opportunities with CACFP (Child & Adult Care Food Program), a nutrition and wellness focus that includes childhood obesity prevention, and related policy activities.