Sourcing Local for Little Ones
Sourcing local food for your ECE program can be easy and fun while allowing you to grow community connections with local producers. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service encourages local foods in Child and Adult Care Food Programs.
Check out the great resources below for more information on how to get started with sourcing local food for your ECE program.
Finding & Buying Local Foods
- Local Procurement For Child Care Centers [PDF] by National Farm to School Network
- Local Purchasing For Family Child Care Providers [PDF] by National Farm to School Network
- Local Food For Little Eaters [PDF] by Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
- How to Buy, Prepare, & Serve Local Foods [PDF] by Community Groundworks
- Community Food Systems – Procuring Local Foods [website] by USDA
- Farm to Early Care Local Purchasing Guide (website) by NC State
Incorporating Local Food into Meals & Snacks
- Recipes for Healthy Kids [PDF] by Let’s Move
- Growing Healthy Kids through Farm to Childcare Resource Toolkit by Public Health Law Center
Garden Food is Local!
Did you know garden food is the most local food you can eat?
Growing an edible garden will provide hands-on learning experiences for your young eaters. Involving your kids from planting to harvest can be a very rewarding experience giving little ones the opportunity to connect with their food! When you involve young children from seed to plate they are more likely to try and enjoy new foods.
“Remember the mantra, “If they make it or grow it, they will eat it.” (Excerpt from the USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit)
If you are starting an edible garden, or planning to utilize a garden for tastings and ingredients be sure to check out our Gardening On-site Toolkit for best practices in garden food safety!