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• Farm to School applications open until May 25

By: Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio

One state agency is working with national service organization Americorps to help communities bring local foods to Wisconsin schools. Organizers hope to expand the service.

Nine Wisconsin communities joined the Farm to School program last year, including Eau Claire, Prairie du Chien and Viroqua.

Lora Klenke, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture, says the goal is to decrease childhood obesity and promote healthy eating habits in schools.

Klenke says they want to add 10 more communities to the program if they receive more funding from their partner, Americorps. Each site would have two corps members working with school districts.

"They will help put together field trips so school children can actually go out and meet a farmer who's supplying the food and learn how food grows," explains Klenke. "This is really to put a face to the food for the children, to get them excited about foods, and to help them make healthy eating decisions."

Marilyn Volden, food service supervisor at Viroqua Area Schools, says the program has fit well with small local farmers in the area.

"We just have a lot of support for such a program here and supporting our local community and wanting to keep our purchasing local."

Americorps food specialist Ed Block helps connect local growers with school food service personnel in Vernon County. He says some people doubted kids would eat wholesome foods.

"By golly, when you put that fresh new food out there in front of them, I would say better than 95 percent tried it. And of those, 95 percent that tried it came back and said, 'I liked it.'"

Block says local farmers are thrilled with the program and stand to profit. Klenke says they're accepting applications until May 25 if schools or non-profits are interested in taking part.