By Kimberly Koogler
Farm to School Coordinator at Georgia Organics
When I started working at Georgia Organics four and a half years ago, part of my job (and one of my favorite parts) was to encourage School Nutrition Directors across the state to apply for an annual Golden Radish Award, the prestigious award that recognizes GA school districts who are doing extraordinary work in farm to school.
We would then review those applications, determine award levels, and help plan a swanky, celebratory award ceremony for the much-deserving awardees.
Applications from districts all over the state would start rolling in in May, and we would spend the summer months poring over their stories, data, and photos. And the photos were SO GOOD (see below)!
As we reviewed submissions and their most adorable accompanying photos, we were able to get an idea of how farm to school programs across Georgia were starting, taking shape, growing, and impacting students.
It was joyful and inspiring to get to bear witness and participate in this process.
The pandemic has deprived us of Golden Radish for two years in a row now, and we have been hungry to know how farm to school programs have been impacted. We also just want to be in closer touch with the School Nutrition heroes and farm to school champions of our state. It is why we are so thrilled to announce our 2021 Farm to School Innovations Mini Grants Program, the next best thing we could come up with!
For four years in a row, Georgia's School Nutrition Departments told us in post-Golden Radish Award surveys that what is needed is money to support Farm to School programs.
Out of a strong desire to support the amazing work that farm to school stakeholders do on a daily basis, we decided we should just give them the funds we would have used on an awards ceremony to support innovative farm to school projects, such as school garden sustainability initiatives, school garden expansion, stipends for hosting a school-based farmers market, equipment/supplies to support menu development, and more. The funds are intended to support farm to school initiatives that:
increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,
include culturally responsive food and education,
increase local food procurement,
and/or benefit Georgia certified organic farmers in other ways.
Through this process, we also hope to see how farm to school is looking these days, and find out how the pandemic has impacted farm to school programs.
If you work in School Nutrition, we encourage you to apply! If you don’t, we encourage you to reach out to your school system’s School Nutrition Department to encourage them to apply. APPLY HERE.
Applications are due by September 11, and we will announce the awardees on September 24.
To learn more about this mini grant program or the Golden Radish Awards, visit farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org/golden-radish-awards, or send an email to kimberly [at] georgiaorganics.org.
Follow Georgia Organics on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.