At Westmore Oaks Elementary in West Sacramento, eating fresh has a whole new meaning. At the school garden students harvest their crops. They get to eat what they’ve grown right off the vine but for others new veggies may take some getting used to, “No flavor” says one student.

The program in Washington Unified School District (WUSD) is made possible thanks to a partnership with Yolo Farm to Fork. The non-profit awards funds to schools who apply for grants.

“This particular garden grows food for the school cafeteria as well as an educational component, so without their partnership this would not have happened”, says Karri Pina WUSD Food Service Director.

From the garden to the cafeteria, kids get to enjoy things like fava beans for lunch. “We always try new food”, “I think it’s pretty good to be healthy. Eat here and have healthy food” share some of the young gardeners in the program.

Thanks to Yolo Farm to Fork children at more schools are able to have a school lunch with fresh fruits and vegetables. “I like more vegetables than fruit, because vegetables more healthier because they give you more protein”, says one student.

Westmore Oaks Food Service Manager, Paula Tapia, says the garden program is clearly growing on kids. “I think this is the key. I really believe that them growing, them being apart of the garden process, makes them want to eat it a little bit more.”

Yolo Farm to Fork has a goal of putting and sustaining a school garden in every school in Yolo County and Big Day of Giving will help with that effort. “At the end of the day if affects the future, kit affects the kids who are here who are making the wise choices in the future”, says Pina.

Yolo Farm to Fork is looking to raise $10,000 today. This will help fund field trips to local farms and help more campuses implement their own gardens. Yolo Farm to Fork currently helps 43 schools with it’s garden program and it hopes to expand to all 60 schools in the county.

Yolo Farm to Fork currently supports more than 40 edible gardens in schools throughout Yolo County. As a private, nonprofit corporation, it depends entirely on local and regional support. It has been on the leading edge of the farm to fork movement, originating with the Davis Farm to School program in 2000. Run mostly on volunteer power, the organization is dedicated to bringing locally grown farm-fresh food to schools and families, and reducing waste through recycling and composting.