Connecticut Grown

For Connecticut Kids Week

HARTFORD — The Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) announced that school districts across the state will celebrate Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week October 9–13. The weeklong event is designed to promote Connecticut agriculture and foods to children through school meal and classroom programs, at farms, farmers’ markets, and other locations in the community.

During Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week, schools will fly banners that identify them as participants in the Connecticut Farm to School Program. They will serve menu items that are prepared with Connecticut-grown foods, and will identify these so that students may learn the contribution of local farmers to the school food system.

A few districts, including Shelton, Scotland, and Hartford, will host harvest celebration days that will include visits from farmers, visits from costumed fruits and vegetables at mealtime, and focused promotions on the importance of supporting Connecticut farms as a valuable source of healthful, nutritious local foods.

Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week is made possible by recent state legislation that involves a partnership between the Connecticut State Departments of Agriculture and Education to foster the importance of agriculture in Connecticut. Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week and the statewide Farm to School Program are being coordinated by Dr Mary Ragno, who can be contacted at 860-456-2002 (mbragno@msn.com). Information is also available from Teri Dandeneau, Connecticut State Department of Education, at 860-807-2079 (teri.dandeneau@ct.gov), and Jane Slupecki, Connecticut State Department of Agriculture, at 860-713-2588 (jane.slupecki@po.state.ct.us).