Educational Service District 101

Since 2019, Small Rural School Food Authorities (SFAS) Across Northeast Washington Have Engaged in Building a Robust Regional Farm to School (F2S) Program. This Program Involves a Wide Variety of Community Partners Including Sfas, Rural Economic Development Corporations, Food Hubs, Producers, Processors, and State and Local Government Agencies. the Regional Food Systems Partnership Grant Will Allow These Stakeholders to 1) Replicate Regional F2S Program Models in Four Additional Regions of Washington State, 2) Continue to Build Up F2S Activities in Northeast Washington, and 3) Work Synergistically With Other State Nutrition Programs to Incorporate Local Foods Into a Larger Network of School Nutrition Programming. Newesd 101 Will Work Collaboratively With the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to Develop These New Regional F2S Programs and Support Local Producers. to Begin This Process, Northeast Washington Educational Service District (NEWESD) 101 Will Hire and Train Three Regional F2S Coordinators to Work in Four Additional Educational Service Districts (ESDS) in Central Washington (esds 105, 123, and 171) and Southwest Washington (esd 113). Esd Partners Will Pair Regional F2S Coordinators With Existing Team Nutrition (TN) Mentors, Who Have Been Working for the Past Year to Strengthen School Nutrition Programs in 22 Small, Rural Sfas Across Washington State. These Districts Will Now Have the Opportunity to Enhance Their School Meal Programs by Partnering With Community Producers and Processors to Source More Local Food Items. Regional F2S Coordinators Will Support the Development of the Regional Farm to School Model, Bringing Fresh Local Products to More School Cafeterias.