News

Montana Family Farms: Farm to School programs grow during supply chain, staffing shortage issues

December 3, 2021 /

MATR Sponsor (view all)

Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

Fiona Jensen-Hitch, a FoodCorps service member, works in a garden with kids at a summer camp in Whitefish on July 14, 2021. Photo by Channing Johnson

The nationwide movement of taking locally grown foods straight from the farm right to school lunch plates called “Farm to School” is picking up momentum across Montana due to supply chain issues and staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 implications.

Montana Farm to School Coordinator Aubree Roth said more than 120 schools and afterschool programs across Montana are involved in their procurement, education and school gardening programs.

According to Montana Farm to School’s 2019-2020 annual report, many schools started gaining interest in Farm to School programs at the beginning of COVID-19 which started unprecedented shifts in education and school meal service.