Farm to Preschool: Strategies for Growing Healthy Children and Communities

With some of the most dramatic increases in obesity occurring among underserved children ages 3-5, including many who consume foods that are nutritionally sub-optimal, the time is ripe to address healthy food access and nutrition concerns for this population and its caregivers. An expansion of the farm to school network of programs, the Farm to Preschool program aims to increase knowledge, preference, and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among preschool-aged children and their parents.

The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute of Occidental College in Los Angeles has implemented a 2-year program at four underserved preschools located in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Program components such as nutrition education, monthly taste tests, visits to farms and farmers' markets, development of school gardens, local food sourcing in snacks or lunch menus, as well as outreach to parents through workshops, were designed to approach the issues of healthy food access and consumption among low income populations in these counties. Evaluation utilizing multiple, independent data approaches is currently ongoing in an effort to triangulate data through child, parent and teacher assessments. Surveys include baseline and follow-up assessments of participating children and their parents, as well as among three comparison sites. Process and qualitative evaluation measures enhance the determination of the program's multi-level effects.

Over 400 children and their parents are participating in this program. While implementation is ongoing, preliminary results are encouraging. Results are expected to be comparable to the evidence-based farm to school program. Participating children are receptive to monthly taste tests and curriculum activities; parents are interested in nutrition-based workshops that include discussions on accessing fresh and local fruits and vegetables in their communities; and teachers have expressed a feeling of ownership to the program and its development. Results thus far suggest that Farm to Preschool-type activities may positively influence knowledge of healthy eating habits and the preference for, and consumption of, fresh and local produce. A range of successful options in sourcing local foods in child care settings will be discussed, as well as lessons learned and best practices for reaching parents and implementing preschool-level nutrition curricula and evaluating program effectiveness with this age group.