What Is Farm to Early Care and Education?
For nearly 30 years, farm to school programs have worked to provide children with nutritious meals while fostering a deeper understanding of local food, farming, and nutrition. Over the past decade, the farm to early care and education movement has successfully adapted these goals to support children in birth – 5 settings.
Farm to early care and education consists of three core elements:
› Increasing access to nutrient-dense, locally grown foods( food purchasing)
› Providing education about food, nutrition, and agriculture
› Offering opportunities for hands-on learning through gardening
Farm to early care and education is an avenue for partnering with families and communities to facilitate children’ s access to and knowledge about healthy foods. These programs focus on improving educational opportunities for all children while also increasing access to locally produced, nutrient-dense foods. To implement these programs, educators need policy and funding support.( For more on these aspects of farm to early care and education, see“ Supports for Farm to Early Care and Education: Planting the Seed for Healthy Environments” in the Winter 2025 issue of Young Children.)
Following, we focus on two of the core elements of farm to early care and education: Food purchasing and education about food, nutrition, and agriculture. We offer strategies for partnering with families through these activities.
Purchasing Locally Grown Foods
Locally grown food is harvested at its peak and travels fewer miles to reach the consumer, allowing it to retain superior freshness, flavor, and nutritional value for growing bodies. By purchasing locally, families and early learning programs support their regional economy while enjoying nutrient-dense produce that is often harvested only hours before it is purchased or served. When children experience the taste of farm-fresh food, they may be more likely to explore and enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Educators can share their program’ s menus with families and indicate which products are local and where they are sourced. This encourages families to purchase from reliable,
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