Contacts:

Matt Cardoza, Director of Communications, Georgia Department of Education,

Julie McPeake, Chief Communications Officer, Georgia Department of Agriculture,

Nancy Nydam, Media Relations Manager, Department of Public Health,

James Carr, Communication Coordinator, Georgia Organics, ,

(404) 481-5017

39Georgia School Districts Honoredfor Farm to School Successes

ATLANTA, October 7, 2015

This schoolyear, White County students have enjoyeddelicious watermelon from a farm less than 25 miles away. Across the state in Tift County, the school system has invested in a 15-acre farm to teach students about gardening and food. In Newton, children learn Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills through hands-on gardening, and in Chatham County, students look forward to “Try It” Tuesdays. These are just a few examples of how over 700,000 students in 39 school districts across Georgia are participating in Farm to School. School district leaders areusing these programs to teachstandards, support their local economies, fight obesity and other preventable, food-related diseases, and increase the amount of fresh, local food they serve to their students.

And today,State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D.,and Georgia Organics Board ChairMandy Mahoney honored 39districtswith the Golden Radish Award, which is given to school districts in Georgia who are doing extraordinary work in farm to school.

During the 2014-2015 school year, school district leaders collectively:

  • Held 4,352 taste tests of fresh, local food to students
  • Taught nearly 1,809garden, food and nutrition lessons to students
  • Tended 328 edible school gardens
  • Hosted 725 hands-on cooking activities with students
  • Incorporated farm to school into 182 staff professional development opportunities
  • Championed and sustained district-wide policies or procedures into 19 schools districts

The Golden Radish Award recognizes school districts for all aspects of farm to school, from local food procurement to hosting taste tests to gardening with students, and is awarded at Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorary Levels.

Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent states, “Eating fresh, locally sourced food at school is great for our students. When kids are healthy and energized, they’re ready to tackle their academic tasks. Farm to School also provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the role and impact of agriculture – Georgia’s largest industry – in our state.”

Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black couldn’t agree more. “Our programs, like Feed My School for a Week and the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen, inspire students to expand their taste buds and connect with the farmers who support the state of Georgia. We are thrilled to participate in the Golden Radish Awards and to assist in creating markets for farmers that also benefit our children’s health and education.”

“Having access to locally grown fruits and vegetables is so important for teaching children healthy eating habits now,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Poor nutrition can cause health problems, overweight and obesity, and inhibit healthy brain development, including the ability to acquire language and literacy. The habits children pick up at this age will lead to healthy physical, emotional and intellectual outcomes that they will carry into adolescence and adulthood.”

“It is incredible to see the growth of farm to school programs in the last few years,” stated Mandy Mahoney, Georgia Organics Board Chair. “Every day, children across our state are getting the opportunity to grow and taste Georgia food in school. I’m excited to see Georgia’s school and agricultural leaders invest in these programs and in our children.”

The award publicly recognizes and honors school districts for their hard work in the variety of farm to school programs they offer students. Districts were evaluated on their work in ten different activities of farm to school.

The 39 school systems being recognized are:

Gold Level

Atlanta Public Schools

Bibb County School District

Bleckley County School District

Burke County Public School System

Carrollton City Schools

City Schools of Decatur

Clarke County School District

Commerce City Schools

Habersham County Schools

Jackson County School System

Laurens County Schools

Tift County Schools

Silver Level

Decatur County Schools

Dougherty County School System

Fulton County Schools

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System

Bronze Level

Barrow County School System

Bartow County School District

Cobb County School District

Evans County Schools

Fannin County School System

Fayette County Public Schools

Forsyth County Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Madison County School District

Newton County Schools

Rabun County Schools

White County Schools

Honorary Level

Crisp County School System

Effingham County Schools

Elbert County School District

Gainesville City School System

Grady County Schools

Lamar County Schools

Marietta City Schools

Sumter County Schools

Treutlen County Schools

Walton County School District

Worth County Schools

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