January 26, 2010—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new “Know Your Farmer, Know Your School” program is currently accepting applications for visits by the USDA Farm to School Tactical Team. The Tactical Team is comprised of Food and Nutrition Service and Agricultural Marketing Service staff members.

The team works with local and state authorities, school districts, farmers and community partners to provide guidance and develop mechanisms for assisting schools in accessing local markets, enabling food producers to work with local school and facilitating communication between interested stakeholders. In 2010, the Tactical Team will visit nine schools that represent diverse demographics and characteristics and offer the following:

• Regional representation of the nation
• Rural, urban, suburban, tribal schools
• Large and small school districts
• Operating as self-operated, vended and foodservice management company
• Various distribution models (e.g., direct purchasing from farmers, purchasing from farmer cooperatives or farmers' markets, purchasing through buying cooperatives or food service management companies) 
• Representing different stages of Farm to School implementation
• Practicing new or innovative ideas of incorporating Farm to School activities

During these site visits, the team will seek to learn about a school district's Farm to School efforts including, but not limited to, how the activities first began; the relationship between growers and the school district; what obstacles exist or were present along the way; and the effects the activities have had on the school and the community.

Districts have until January 31, 2010, to send in a request for consideration at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/F2S/email.htm.

For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/F2S/f2stacticalteam.htm.

Related Links

Farm to School Tactical Team

Farm to School Tactical Team Application Form