Tracey Bates
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: I love them all! If I had to choose, I would say, apples, beets, bok choy, brussel sprouts, plums, and sweetpotatoes.
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Farm to school can vary across settings, but it always includes one or more of the following: purchasing, promoting, and serving local food as part of school meals, snacks or taste tests, interactive learning through gardening, and/or engaging educational activities related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: I got involved in farm to school as part of my work with the DINE Program SNAP-Ed outreach in schools and the community. We provided nutrition education to students, staff and families, assisted with school gardens, promoted healthy choices, and supported purchasing and serving locally grown food as part of meals and snacks.
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: The N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) received a Team Nutrition Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For the grant, we are working with teams of high school students, teachers, and local School Nutrition Programs through the N.C. Jr. Chef Competition to develop school lunch entree recipes that meet National School Lunch Program regulations, feature North Carolina-grown ingredients, and appeal to students. We are also working on nutrition education and promotional resources, including lesson plans, fact sheets, posters, social media graphics, Ag Mags, and videos about the North Carolina-grown Ingredients. I also serve as a volunteer with my child’s school providing nutrition education, assisting with the school garden, and promoting healthy choices and locally grown food.
Valerie Green
Valerie has worked in Child Nutrition programs for twenty-nine years and recently retired in February 2020. She has served on the NC Food Distribution Advisory Council, Orange County Food Council, and the Orange County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: During this season, I love sweet potatoes and collards.
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Farm to school means our children in NC have the opportunity to learn about access to local food/products.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: As a Child Nutrition Director for over 30 years in 3 counties, I always try to promote access to local produce and products by participating in DOD and using local vendors.
Kirsten Blackburn
Kirsten began their farm to school journey as a FoodCorps service member before becoming the Farm to School Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: I absolutely love all the fall/winter greens! Kale, collards, spinach, swiss chard oh my!
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Farm to school provides a wonderful opportunity for communities to engage in food access and sovereignty. Through farm to school, communities can share and learn about various cultures and experiences.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: From 2019 to 2021, I served as a FoodCorps Americorps Service Member. In this role, I provided garden and nutrition education to elementary school students in Southeast Raleigh.
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: During the growing season, I participate in a community farmshare program in Durham, NC!
Morgan King
Morgan is a Family and Consumer Sciences NC Extension agent in New Hanover County. She works with communities, adults, and youth in areas of food access, nutrition, and overall wellness.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: How could I possibly decide? So many delicious foods this time of year. Okra, muscadines, and apples have been a highlight.
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: To me Farm to School is all about increasing food literacy in a fun and engaging way.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: As a 4-H Youth Development Agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension I worked closely with FoodCorps Service Members and saw how well my program and Farm to School fit. I loved the intersection of natural resources, horticulture, and nutrition while integrating science and math. I see Farm to School as a collaborative and worthwhile effort with my colleagues and community partners.
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: I just started a program with a local middle school and garden nonprofit to teach a monthly cooking session alongside a team-leading garden education, so that’s exciting! NC State Extension has a Local Food Program Team and I co-chair the Farm to School workgroup.
Diane Beth
Diane is a Nutrition Program Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Diane is a founding partner of the Farm to School Coalition of NC! She is passionate about food, good health, dancing, hiking, and sharing time with family and friends.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: Probably apples first, then baby bok choy.
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Getting all kids, their families, and our communities excited about local food and nutrition through hands-on experiences and access at school and in early care and education sites.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: As a public health nutritionist working at the state (NCDHHS) level my focus is to improve the health of all North Carolinians through nutrition and physical activity. I helped form the Farm to School Coalition of NC because as a “connector”, I began to see the need and interest of others who also wanted to help grow this movement in NC and to do so in a coordinated way.
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: I serve on the NC Farm to Preschool Network Advisory Committee which is helping grow this movement in Early Care and Education sites throughout NC. I also work to connect our Coalition work with other initiatives like Eat Smart, Move More NC and through our Division of Child & Family Well-Being programs (where I am employed) so that healthier food and physical activity choices can be the easier, affordable and culturally appropriate choices for all of our residents.
Remi Ham
Remi is an Assistant Teaching Professor at NC State University and the NC State Extension Farm to School Coordinator. Her recent work focuses on designing edible teaching gardens and developing an environment curriculum for K-12 schools.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: Cool season crops are my absolute favorite! In the fall, I love the assortment of apples available, but I also love collards, kale, sweet potatoes..the list goes on.
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Farm to School means so much - It connects communities to local food and growers, supports the local economy and small-scale producers, and also helps children connect to nutritious food in such an engaging way.
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: For much of my career, I have implemented several school gardens, developed garden curriculums, and assisted with food insecurity initiatives. At NC State, I have both an academic appointment as an Assistant Teaching Professor and an Extension appointment. Based on my professional and continued community work, joining the Farm to School workgroup and now the Farm to School Coalition was a natural fit. I’m excited about the work ahead!
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: Presently, I’m working with a local elementary school and assisting with their garden programming. Seeing children grow and then harvest their own vegetables is such a joy. Witnessing the excitement on their faces never gets old, but also, they are learning such valuable lessons. Through NC State Extension’s Local Food Program team, I co-chair the Farm to School workgroup. We are working on exciting initiatives - one initiative includes developing a comprehensive online farm to school training.
If you are interested in learning more about the online farm to school training course, please fill out this form.
Gwen Turner
Gwen is a Family and Consumer Sciences Education Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Before her days with NCDPI, she was a Family and Consumer Science teacher for 12 years in Nash County.
Q: What is your favorite in-season locally grown fruit or vegetable?
A: Apples
Q: What does farm to school mean to you?
A: Farm to school means supporting local farmers through nutrition education for North Carolina students
Q: How did you get involved in farm to school?
A: As an educator and now Family and Consumer Science education consultant, I am involved to support farm to school through curriculum support.
Q: What farm to school activities/initiatives are you currently involved in outside of the Farm to School Coalition of NC?
A: Working towards providing lesson plans for NC locally-grown produce for Family and Consumer Science teachers.