Food Safety

Why Food Safety Matters in Farm to Kids

Food safety is an important part of every Farm to Kids program. Following safe food handling practices helps keep children healthy and makes it easier to serve local foods with confidence. Explore these resources to learn more about food safety and using local foods safely.

School Nutrition Requirements

Food Safety Requirements for School Nutrition Programs from the Minnesota Department of Education.

‍Fact sheets to help understand the key points when selling and buying local foods.

‍Use the food safety tree to view allowable practices when purchasing local shell eggs, meat and poultry.

A clean cafeteria salad bar stocked with snap peas, green salad, cucumbers, apples, and pineapple cups.

Legal Guidelines

School Nutrition Programs are allowed to procure and serve locally grown foods. When buying products directly from a farm for your food service operation, it is important to know the food safety requirements that farmers must follow.

Large, colorful heirloom tomatoes being washed in a stainless steel kitchen sink.

‍Fact sheets to help understand the key points when selling and buying local foods.

Communicating with Farmers

Food Safety Questions to Ask Your Farmer from the Minnesota Department of Education.

Extension web page to help food service operations start conversations with local farmers.

A school cafeteria worker preparing fresh cantaloupe halves in a commercial kitchen.

Food Safety

Guidance from the University of Minnesota Extension for creating safe school gardens, including planning, food safety, garden maintenance, and strategies for providing safe, hands-on learning experiences.