A new program being developed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland State Board of Education will bring more Maryland-grown productsto school lunches and help educate students about where their food comes, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet.

The Jane Lawton Farm to School Program, so named in honor of the late Maryland House of Delegates member Jane Lawton of District 18, Montgomery County, was created during the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly when SB 158 Farm-to-School Program - Activities and Promotional Events, sponsored by Senator Jamie Raskin, was signed into law by the Governor in May. In addition to facilitating the procurement of local Maryland produce for school menus, the bill also creates a Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week to promote Maryland agriculture through school meal and classroom programs and interaction between students and local farmers.

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Join us for Maryland's first ever state-wide Farm to School Workshop on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to be held at Indian Creek Upper School, 1130 Anne Chambers Rd, Crownsville, MD. Maryland farmers, food service staff, parents, teachers, and interested citizens can collaborate toward growing healthier children and a healthier economy and environment. Click here to register online; click here to register by email, regular mail, or fax. Early registration by July 15, 2009 is $25; later is $35. Early registration guarantees your locally prepared lunch! Space is limited - watch for your confirmation with directions by email. Directions to Indian Creeks Upper School

Statewide, the program has been an overwhelming success and shows great promise for the future. Almost every county in Maryland participated this year as are more than 30 different Maryland farms. It is true example of a successful federal, state, local and private collaboration that is working. Click here to learn about the exciting kick-off event and see the press coverage in "News Corner".

Just think of the tremendous impact on our families and our communities if even our local item is included in school lunches for each of the 950,000 Maryland public school students. Farmers would have additional income, thereby strengthening the local economy and keeping farm land open and productive. Our children would receive the nutritional benefits of fresh, local products as well as the knowledge of why this matters. And, the financial, environmental, and nutritional costs of transporting food would decrease.

Including local food in school lunches and related information in the classroom is good for our students and good for Maryland. We encourage students and parents to continue asking for fresh, local produce in school lunches.

Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week 2009 will be held from September 14-18, 2009.

For more details, contact your local school system, or call MDA at 410-841-5770 or email MarylandsBest@mda.state.md.us.