Virginia Celebrates Farm to School Week October 6–10

For Immediate Release: October 6, 2025 Contact: [email protected] [email protected]

Richmond, VA - The Virginia Department of Education encourages schools and communities across the Commonwealth to join the agency in celebrating Virginia Farm to School Week, October 6-10, 2025. Virginia Farm to School programs connect students with locally grown food in cafeterias, preschools, and summer feeding programs while enhancing educational opportunities in school gardens, student farms and land labs, classrooms, and cafeterias.

"Farm to School Week supports local farmers while providing fresh food products to our school children," said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. "These programs remind us that supporting agriculture begins with our youngest learners."

"School divisions across the Commonwealth are getting creative and making farm to school programs come alive in exciting ways," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson. "From serving up fresh, locally grown meals in cafeterias to planting school gardens and weaving agriculture into classroom lessons, these efforts are transforming the school day. Students aren't just learning about healthy food, they're experiencing it firsthand, demonstrating how these programs can also boost academic success."

On Thursday, October 9, Virginians will join together to celebrate the ninth annual "Crunch Heard 'Round the Commonwealth" as part of Virginia Farm to School Week. This statewide event encourages students, educators, and communities to take a collective bite out of a fresh, Virginia-grown apple, making some noise for local agriculture and healthy eating. Participants are invited to share their crunchy moments on social media using the hashtags #VACrunch and #VAFarmtoSchool, and by tagging @VDOESCNP.

"Not only do Farm to School programs increase student access to Virginia Grown food, they also create new, consistent markets for Virginia producers and keep money in local economies," said Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Joseph Guthrie. "Educational opportunities teach students about food provenance and Virginia's long history of agriculture. There is no doubt that farm to school programs benefit students, local producers, and economies across the Commonwealth."

"Throughout Virginia, child nutrition programs are developing creative strategies to advance school meals, while also strengthening our local food systems. As Farm to School efforts grow, we see the positive impact on students, communities, and Virginia farms, fueling our continued commitment to supporting this work," said Virginia Department of Education School and Community Nutrition Programs Director, Sara Bennett.

According to annual data collected by the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Farm to School programs continue to gain momentum. During School Year 2023-24, purchases of local food totaled $20.89 million from over 131 school divisions and private schools.

Visit the VDOE website to find additional information about celebrating Virginia Farm to School Week and the Crunch Heard 'Round the Commonwealth, including accessing the free digital promotional materials.