III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 443 

Designating October 2023 as ‘‘National Farm to School Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 31, 2023 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. FETTERMAN, Mr. KING, Mr. 

BOOKER, Ms. SMITH, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 2023 as ‘‘National Farm to School 

Month’’. 

Whereas farm to school programs of varying scale operate in 

nearly 67,369 schools across the United States; 

Whereas farm to school programs connect schools and local 

farms in order to— 

(1) serve nutritious meals in school cafeterias; and 

(2) support local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen; 

Whereas farm to school programs include experiential education components that can lead to permanent improvements in the diets of children, both in school and at 

home; 

Whereas farm to school programs facilitate the purchase of 

local food for school meals; 


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•SRES 443 ATS 

Whereas farm to school programs can benefit small and midsized agricultural producers by providing access to consistent markets; 

Whereas farm to school programs can be particularly important for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers, as 

schools provide a consistent and secure customer base; 

Whereas farm to school programs can benefit local economies; 

Whereas, for every $1 spent on local foods in schools, up to 

an additional $2 circulates in the local economy; 

Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that only 7 percent of children consume 

the recommended amount of vegetables; 

Whereas communities with high levels of poverty have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables than higher income 

communities; 

Whereas the increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is 1 of 6 major strategies to prevent and control 

obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention; 

Whereas studies have demonstrated that children in schools 

with an active farm to school program increase their average consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by 1 or 

more servings per day; 

Whereas farm to school programs— 

(1) are popular among children; 

(2) can increase interest in school meal programs; 

and 

(3) can decrease food waste; and 


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•SRES 443 ATS 

Whereas October 2023 would be an appropriate month to 

designate as ‘‘National Farm to School Month’’: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2023 as ‘‘National Farm 

3 to School Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes support for policy improvements 

5 to farm to school programs in legislation reauthor6 izing child nutrition programs; 

7 (3) encourages schools, early care and edu8 cation organizations, and local educational agencies 

9 to use local farm products in meals; and 

10 (4) encourages schools, early care and edu11 cation organizations, farmers and farm groups, local 

12 businesses, nonprofit institutions, churches, cities, 

13 State governments, and other local groups to raise 

14 awareness of farm to school efforts in their commu15 nities. 

Æ 


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