As children get back into the swing of classes for the year, the ever-popular Farm 2 School fundraiser will soon kick off with an even easier process to get fresh food and raise money for important school functions. This announcement was made by Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Sharon Blady.
“As a mom, I always look forward to Farm 2 School, and the tasty veggies I can serve to my family,” said Minister Blady. “This program makes it easier for families to access more fresh, healthy and delicious Manitoba-grown foods while offering an opportunity to raise money for their schools and daycare centres.”
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Farm 2 School Manitoba Healthy Choice Fundraiser. This program distributes local Manitoba vegetables to communities’ province-wide. The collaboration of the Manitoba government, the Manitoba Association of Home Economists (MAHE), Peak of the Market and Buy Manitoba gives schools and daycares the opportunity to raise funds by selling bundles of locally grown potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips and cabbage in $10 or $20 bundles. Fifty per cent of total sales go directly to schools and daycares.
In addition to celebrating the Farm 2 School program’s success, today is being proclaimed as Local Veggie Day in the province.
“MAHE is pleased to sponsor this event and the fundraiser as together we promote healthy eating and support local vegetable farmers,” said Diana Mager, president, MAHE. “It is appropriate that Local Veggie Day be celebrated in a home economics classroom where vital and practical living skills are taught to students each day.”
In advance of this year’s fundraiser, MAHE revamped the Farm 2 School website to help make the program a success in their schools and daycare centres. A new co-ordinator login system was created and now offers a simpler enrolment process, easier placement of orders and access to forms.
MAHE will also again work with Peak of the Market this year to help Manitobans share the gift of healthy food by continuing with the food bank donation program. Manitobans are encouraged to donate bundles of fresh vegetables to the Manitoba Association of Food Banks on behalf of schools and daycares across Manitoba.
Last year, more than 700,000 pounds of vegetables were sold, raising more than $375,000 for participating schools and daycares across the province.
