News & Events

The winner of the 2019 Farmer Recognition Award goes to Cecil Creek Farm. Click here to learn more about the Farm and how they are teaching the next generation of students about New Jersey agriculture. Check out the press release of our visit to Cecil Creek Farm and presentation of the Award, here. 

Philip's Academy Charter School in Newark, NJ won the 2018-2019 Best in NJ Farm to School Award. We presented them their Award on their rooftop garden on September 23 during Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week. Read the press release, here. To learn more about Philip's Academy EcoSpaces Program, click here. 

The last week in September is when New Jersey celebrates our agricultural past, present and future with schools across the state. Connecting the classroom to the cafeteria, curriculum that supports nutrition education and all healthy eating, school gardens and school meals is what Farm to School is all about.

CELEBRATE NEW JERSEY TOMATOES with JERSEY TASTES!

We celebrate the New Jersey tomato crop in September with our Jersey Tastes Tomato tasting on Tuesday, September 24^th. You can hold your own tomato tasting and find some New Jersey tomatoes at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Find Jersey Fresh link to see what farms are selling tomatoes, hosting field trips and connecting with schools.

We’ve got Jersey Tastes Tomato flyers  to download and print, as well as two-sided  Tomato Fun Facts for classroom instruction.

If you’re hosting a taste test with our state’s delicious tomatoes, print out our taste test stickers in round or square formats. Divide students into groups to debate why they “Loved It”, “Liked It” or decided it was “Not for Me”. Have them vote and use the results to discuss fractions. Give them an opportunity to write a descriptive paragraph about the taste of the tomato, its texture, color and smell.

Are you trying to come up with an idea for a Farm to School activity? Visit our Farm to School Activity Ideas for inspiration.

Click here for all Farm to School Templates, Resources and Ideas.

October is National Farm to School Month across our nation. The month was set aside by Congress to celebrate the connections between children and local food. Click here to find out more.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture awarded $10,000 in competitive mini grants to nine schools in 2018 to develop Farm to School activities in New Jersey schools. Click here for the full article. The next round of Farm to School mini grants will be announced for the 2019-20 school year in Fall 2019.