How can you, a parent, caregiver, family member, or interested community member, support local and healthy meals in schools?

In Jackson and Josephine Counties, over 6,500 children eat at school every day. More than half of the students qualify for free and reduced meals in 9/10 of the school districts in Jackson and Josephine Counties. Outside of school, 12.7% of Jackson County households are food insecure and 15% of households in Josephine County are food insecure. School meals have a huge impact on children and families relying on nutritious and desirable foods throughout the day. They also impact those wanting to use school meal programs as a meal option, regardless of their financial status. 

Rogue Valley Farm to School works in Jackson and Josephine County schools to support school nutrition and meal programs as well as our local economy. We encourage local and healthy meal components to help children build healthy relationships to food. This looks like connecting schools with local farms, co-creating healthy recipes, and developing promotional and education materials. We also educate children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs. Ultimately, we inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of our community and the health of its members.

What You Can Do 

1. Visit your child or children at lunch time and eat with them

2. Check out your district's menus and local wellness policy 

   The Child Nutrition Act requires all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program to write and implement a local school wellness policy. This document covers everything from school food to nutrition education programs to physical activity recommendations. The USDA’s Local School Wellness Policy page details the background, requirements and evaluation of these policies. It’s important to familiarize yourself with your district’s Local Wellness Policy. If you’re having difficulty finding your district's policy, reach out to some of the contacts we’ve listed below. They may be in the process of redeveloping these post-COVID. 

3. Get clear on what you want to support or advocate for

   Are you…

   • Looking to encourage more fresh produce in a salad bar or snack option?

   • Interested in more local sourcing at the schools?

   • Wanting a garden at your school?

   • Looking for nutrition and gardening education in the classroom or lunchroom?

   • Interested in encouraging fresh breakfasts?

   • Wanting to change some of the environmental aspects like having a longer lunch or having recess before lunch?

   • Wanting better transparency of what is being served?

4. Join Rogue Valley Farm to School’s advocacy group 

   This is an emerging program of people, like you, who are wanting to enact change in school meals. We’re looking to include: 

   • Family members/caregivers of students

   • PTO/PTA Members

   • Teachers

   • School Garden/Community Garden representative

   • School board members

   • School Nurse/health professional working in the community

   • Community advocates

   • Representatives of community businesses who share the mission of healthy food

   • School Administration

   • School Health/Student Health Advisory Council members

   • Food Service Director/Food service staff

   • Farmer or grower

   In this group, we will explore ways to communicate priorities to school nutrition staff and other decision makers. Note, decisions regarding school food are made at many levels of government and community, from federal to local. The Center for Ecoliteracy created this outline, which clearly delineates the levels of authority and their responsibilities. Together we can learn to support meal programs by writing support letters, engaging our legislators and decision makers, encouraging grant opportunities, and promoting meal program successes. Sign up for our newsletter and choose our advocacy pathway to learn more. 

5. Learn more and get inspired

   • Chef Ann Cooper’s TEDxManhattan Talk

   • Changing School Food: A Resource for Parents and Advocates

   • Talking About School Food with Chef Ann

   • The Center For Ecoliteracy’s “Making the Case”

6. Reach out to your legislators and district's decision makers

   Let them know what’s important to you! For county and statewide issues, contact your legislators. Find your legislator using this link. If you are in the Central Point or Phoenix-Talent School Districts, you can find those contacts below.