Get ready for Taste Washington Day, the annual celebration of local food in school meals
Every year on a day in October, schools shine a spotlight on farm to school connections and serve meals featuring the bounty of Washington’s harvest, from fresh fruits and veggies, to dairy, meat, fish, seafood, grains, and legumes. Students learn about the farmers, fishers, and producers who grow, harvest, catch, and make local foods and the importance of agriculture in their community and across Washington state.
Now in its 16th year, Taste Washington Day also celebrates the history and growth of farm to school connections across Washington and the many benefits to kids, farms, and communities. Buying from local farms invests in local economies while ensuring students have access to fresh, nutritious, local food.
Taste Washington Day also recognizes the hard work and dedication of the many school nutrition professionals, farmers, and community partners who go above and beyond to buy and serve local foods, not just on Taste Washington Day, but all year long.
How does Taste Washington Day work?
School districts complete this sign-up form to participate and share their plans. Schools plan all sorts of activities, such as serving a local food at breakfast or lunch, farmer visits, taste tests, FFA or 4-H presentations, an apple (or other produce) “Crunch,” or special school garden lessons.
Farmers and food producers complete this interest form to let schools know what products they will have available in October. WSDA will share this information with participating schools.
Explore the FREE Taste Washington Day Resource Toolkit for great ideas and materials including:
Outreach Materials: sample newsletter, morning announcements, social media posts, press release, and invitation letters to engage your whole community;
Promotional Materials: fillable menus, table tents with Taste Washington Day fun facts, and flyers to promote local foods and farms;
Sample recipes and menu inspiration;
Ideas for educational activities; and more!
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Need ideas - Schools and farms around the state celebrate in all sorts of ways:
Serving a locally-sourced lunch or breakfast with Washington grown ingredients
Buying ingredients directly from a local farm
Highlighting Washington farms on school lunch menus
School garden activities, such as a lesson or visit, or serving school garden produce in a meal
Doing the Washington Apple Crunch
Local food taste tests
Providing education and activities about the region's agricultural bounty
Inviting farmers to lunch
Having Future Farmers of America (FFA) or other community partners to be a part of the day
What's in Season?
Learn about fruits and vegetables available from Washington farms in October:
Washington Grown Seasonality Chart - Vegetables | Spanish Version - Vegetales
Washington Grown Seasonality Chart - Fruit and Herbs |
Spanish Version - Fruta y Hierbas
In addition, many schools feature local foods available year-round, such as eggs, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, beans, peas, lentils, grains, and honey.
Click the button below for information about sourcing local and sesaonal foods from Washington farms and food producers, or contact WSDA Farm to School for help.
This celebration was cooked up byWashington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) with support from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Services to promote locally grown food served in school meals.
For more information or assistance, contact: Annette Slonim, WSDA Farm to School Lead ataslonim@agr.wa.gov or 206-714-2757 (call or text)