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Farm Fresh Challenge
Congratulations for Completing the Farm Fresh Challenge in October 2019

During the month of October, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) hosted the annual Farm Fresh Challenge. Open to all TDA contracting entities (CE) in the National School Lunch Program, the Challenge is a fun and engaging way for school nutrition professionals and their schools to gain recognition for their efforts to bring local foods and garden-based learning activities to their students. 

Challenge participation soared in 2019 with more than 250 school districts participating statewide, serving over 2 million students!

Participating in the Challenge is Easy

Contracting entities followed these simple steps to participate in the Farm Fresh Challenge and receive TDA recognition!

Step 1: Take the Challenge participation pledge.

Important note: The Challenge participation pledge should be completed by the CE, not an individual school campus.


Step 2: Plan your menu and educational activities.


Step 3: Complete challenge parameters listed below.


Step 4: Submit your participation attestation form by Thursday, November 15, 2019.


Step 5 (optional): Send a success story about your participation and photos (if available) to FarmFresh@TexasAgriculture.gov


Choose Your Participation Tier: Eat Local. Teach Local. Be Social.



Resources to Help You Complete the Challenge

Below are a few resources that you can leverage to make completing the Farm Fresh Challenge a breeze for your school.

Sourcing Local Products

Find local Texas farmers, ranchers and distributors using our Farm Fresh Network tool.

Questions about how to buy local? Visit the Local Procurement page for additional resources.


Recipes for Menu Items

Make your menu fresh with our Cooking for the Seasons cookbook.


Farm Fresh Activities Ideas

Engage your students in garden-based learning with these activity ideas.

For students in grades K-5

For students in grades 6-12
For all ages


Social Guidance 

Complete the Be Social. parameter with the help of our social guidance tool.

Click the icon below for the Social Media Support Toolkit

Farm Fresh Challenge Social Media Icon

Even more resources to support your participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge can be found on our RESOURCE PAGE.

For more information about Farm Fresh Fridays or the Farm Fresh Challenge, please contact TDA at FarmFresh@TexasAgriculture.gov.


Other Helpful Resources

Defining Local Decision Tool

The USDA authorizes entities participating in the NSLP to define local in a manner that best suits their needs and the needs of the population they serve. This tool will walk you through two questions to help you identify your entity’s definition of local.

Local Procurement Decision Tree

This USDA resource will help you identify they appropriate procurement method to use when buying local. 


Success Stories


CRUNCH ACROSS COVE! A fun way to celebrate the Farm Fresh Challenge!  Maximize 
Lockhart ISD Serves Local with First Farm Fresh Challenge  Maximize 
Beeville ISD Students Excited to See Farm Fresh Options  Maximize 
Multiple Sources Provide Local Foods for Coppell ISD  Maximize 
2019 Farm Fresh Challenge Participants NSLP
Browse records in that    Search     
Contracting EntityESC RegionAward Level
Aldine ISD4Best of the Bunch
Aledo ISD11Best of the Bunch
Alice ISD2Best of the Bunch
Alvin ISD4Best of the Bunch
Amarillo ISD16Best of the Bunch
Angleton ISD4Best of the Bunch
Austin ISD13Best of the Bunch
Barbers Hill ISD4Best of the Bunch
Beeville ISD2Best of the Bunch
Brazosport ISD4Best of the Bunch
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Parent Communication Card

 

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.



Texas Department of Agriculture

Commissioner Sid Miller