Valdosta learning center included in Georgia Grown’s ‘Farm to School’ programs

VALDOSTA — Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black announced the latest schools selected to participate in Georgia Grown’s farm-to-school programs that include the Feed My School for a Week program, the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen program and schools receiving System of Distinction awards.

Horne Learning Center in Valdosta was one of the schools included this year.

The Georgia Grown Feed My School for a Week program, launched in 2011, is growing to include 34 schools throughout Georgia this year. This year’s additions include:

— Cherokee Elementary School, Polk County Schools;

— Eastside Elementary School, Polk County Schools;

— Parkside Elementary Schools, Atlanta Public Schools;

— Springfield Elementary School, Effingham County Schools.

In its fifth year, the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen program is designed to be an initiative to promote healthy eating in schools across the state by supplying school nutrition directors with healthy recipes using Georgia Grown commodities. The most recent additions include:

— Baldwin High School, Baldwin County Schools;

— Commerce Middle School, Commerce City Schools;

— Horne Learning Center, Valdosta City Schools;

— West Laurens High School, Laurens County Schools.

The Georgia Grown System of Distinction Award is an honor designed to recognize the nutrition directors and their schools for their leadership in developing superior farm-to-school programs on the state and national level. These awards are being presented for the third consecutive year. The 2018 System of Distinction award winners include:

— Burke County Schools;

— Fulton County Schools;

— Laurens County Schools.

Officials said the schools selected were chosen because of their efforts in Georgia’s farm-to-school movement and Georgia’s 20/20 Vision for School Nutrition. The 20/20 Vision for School Nutrition program aims to have at least 20 percent of every meal in Georgia public schools compromised of Georgia products by the start of 2020, and is a partnership including the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Department of Public Health.

“Through these farm to school programs we can change the purchasing habits of a generation from the time they enter our school systems,” Black said. “We look forward to strengthening our relationships with our participating school systems as we strive to successfully reach our goal set forth by the 20/20 Vision for School Nutrition in Georgia.”

The Georgia Grown Test Kitchen and the Feed My School for a Week program help to bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools. The System of Distinction awards identify those systems that have excelled in implementing efforts that have led to further development of the Department of Agriculture’s multiple farm-to-school programs.

For more information about the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-school programs, visit feedmyschool.org.

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