A. The Legislature recognizes that: 1. Farm to School Programs link schools and Oklahoma farms in order to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed farm commodities for inclusion in school meals and snacks, to help children develop healthy eating habits, and to improve Oklahoma farmers’ incomes and direct access to markets; and 2. The benefits of Farm to School Programs often include activities that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and composting programs, and integrate nutrition and agriculture education into school curricula. B. It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts encourage the implementation of the Oklahoma Farm to School Program, which will emphasize the purchase of locally and regionally produced foods in order to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies. C. A successful statewide Farm to School Program will require the resources, expertise, and collaboration of a variety of state agencies, including the State Department of Education, the State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, the Department of Human Services, and a nonprofit agency that has experience in Farm to School Programs.
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