The San Luis Coastal Unified School District is teaming up with FarmSLO and Slow Money SLO to bring locally grown food to student lunches.
Erin Primer, the director of food service for the district, began buying local food for the school meal program. The program has continued to grow to several schools throughout the district, including Bishop’s Peak Elementary School in San Luis Obispo.
The district says the plan helps local farmers while bringing awareness to the food being put on the plates of students across the area. It also lowers the transportation carbon footprints and provides more nutritious meals.
“Our mission is to support local food and farm businesses and help them grow and help them address some of the challenges they have to survive local growing,” said Jeff Wade, the founder and executive director of SlowmoneySLO.org.
One student says it shows other kids about the importance of doing business here on the Central Coast to promote the local economy and provide opportunity to farmers.
“I think it is important for people who say want to be a farmer when they grow up, they have experience to give it to school kids. When the school kids like it, they feel proud of what they do and they continue to help out in the community,” said Kyan Vander Wheele.
The program has been running since 2017.
A benefit dinner for FarmSLO is taking place Oct. 5. For more information,click here.
