{"id":24758,"date":"2020-10-20T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=24758"},"modified":"2020-10-20T10:05:13","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T14:05:13","slug":"joint-release-governor-hogan-declares-oct-19-23-maryland-homegrown-school-lunch-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2020\/10\/20\/joint-release-governor-hogan-declares-oct-19-23-maryland-homegrown-school-lunch-week\/","title":{"rendered":"JOINT RELEASE: Governor Hogan Declares Oct. 19-23 Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ANNAPOLIS, MD <\/strong>\u2013 Governor Larry Hogan has designated October 19-23 as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week<\/a>, an annual event that encourages students to learn about where their food comes from and all the fresh, local products Maryland producers have to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year more than ever, local farms and school food services have been essential in keeping Maryland students fed and nourished,\u201d said Governor Hogan. \u201cEach year, Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week highlights the important connection our communities have to agriculture and healthy eating. I encourage our Maryland schools, students, and families to participate in Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of today\u2019s children are far removed from farming, believing that their fresh fruits and vegetables come from the supermarket rather than a farm,\u201d said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. \u201cMaryland Homegrown School Lunch Week is a great opportunity to educate kids about how their food gets to their plates, the farmers that grow it, and the in-season products produced right here in Maryland. In a year where farmers and school nutrition staff have been working tirelessly to feed our students, it is especially important that we recognize their efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Maryland schools are continuing to serve local foods in school meals, even during the ongoing pandemic,\u201d said State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon. \u201cThis year, in celebration of Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, we celebrate and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Maryland farmers, producers, and school nutrition staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of August 29, Maryland agencies had served over 24.3 million meals since school closures due to COVID-19, according to the Maryland State Department of Education\u2019s (MSDE) Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (OSCNP).<\/p>\n

Before the pandemic, Maryland schools bought $18 million of local products annually for school meals and the state ranked ninth\u00a0in the nation for money invested in local food, with the average school district spending 23% of their food budget on local products (USDA\u2019s Farm to School Census<\/a>). Maryland was also the first state in the nation to have every public school system participate in Maryland Homegrown School Lunch.<\/p>\n

Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week 2020 falls during National Farm to School Month and Maryland Apple Month. This year marks the 13th<\/sup> anniversary of Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week and though it may look a little different than in years past, Maryland farmers, schools, students, and families can still participate in the following ways.<\/p>\n

Everyone:
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