SC Farm-to-School Programs Encourages Children to Consume Vegetables

Abstract

Children in the United States consume too few vegetables and fruits, consistent with the diets of adults and the foods available in the food supply. The farm-to-school movement seeks to improve both the supply of fruits and vegetables available to children and children’s diets. The State of South Carolina (SC) piloted a farm-to-school program with 4 program components including a partnership with local producers, SC-grown foods in the cafeteria, promotion of SC-grown foods, and a school garden. We used a quasi-experimental design to compare whether children in participating schools consumed more fruits and vegetables than children in matched comparison schools. In matched-controlled analyses children tasted and consumed more vegetables in farm-to-school schools than in comparison schools (0.11 servings, P < .10) but ate fewer fruits (−0.07 servings, P < .05). Parents reported that children asked more for fruits and vegetables at home after being exposed to farm-to-school programs. Farm-to-school programs may be a positive way to promote better diet as well as support regional food system development.

KEYWORDS:

• farm-to-school
• school meals
• vegetables