Pictured left to right are: State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Habersham County School Teacher Cindy Clark, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Georgia Organics Board Chair Mandy Mahoney, Habersham County School Nutrition Director Andrea Thomas, and Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black at the Golden Radish Award Ceremony.
The Habersham County School System was recognized with the Golden Radish Award, a prestigious statewide farm to school distinction which acknowledges the outstanding leadership of school representatives building comprehensive farm to school programs.
The school district was recognized for its efforts to educate students on nutrition and agriculture by State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, and Georgia Organics Board Chair Mandy Mahoney.
Habersham County Schools was recognized at the Gold level for their accomplishments during the last school year, which include:
● Habersham County school meals featured produce from local farms such as apples, yellow squash, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, onions and sweet potatoes.
● Students interacted with local farmers 16 times this year through school taste tests, field trips to farms, and with special school days, including Farm Bureau Farm Day and Career Day.
● The Habersham County school district maintains a total of seven edible gardens that incorporate a variety of farming techniques, including raised beds, greenhouses, row crops, and rainwater catchment systems.
● At least 37 unique farm to school standards-based lesson plans were developed and taught, totaling over 7,000 student contacts with farm to school curriculum and there were over 9,000 student exposures to taste tests.
● “It takes a community!” is the Habersham County Farm to School motto. A community leadership team composed of school personnel, partner agencies, and dedicated volunteers work with schools, local chefs, and local farmers to connect students to local food and nutrition education.
School districts across Georgia are using farm to school programs to teach core curriculum, support their local economies, fight obesity and other preventable, food-related diseases, and increase the amount of local food they serve to their students.
The 2015 Golden Radish Award recognizes school districts for all aspects of farm to school during the 2014-2015 school year—from local food procurement to hosting taste tests to gardening with students—and is awarded at Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorary Levels to districts with varying levels of farm to school programs.
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.”
Districts were evaluated on their work in ten different activities of farm to school.
Collectively, the school systems:
· Held 4,352 taste tests of fresh, local food to students
· Taught nearly 1,809 garden, 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 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
