Marin Organic’s Organic School Lunch and Gleaning Program

Marin Organic is a cooperative association of Marin County organic producers dedicated to improving farming practices and promoting sustainable agriculture and locally produced food by offering support and educational opportunities for farmers, marketing assistance, public outreach and environmental management programs. The organization also builds relationships with businesses, member producers, farming associations, restaurants, environmental groups and schools to promote local, organic agriculture.

One such relatiohship is the organization’s Organic School Lunch and Gleaning Program. Seven years ago, Marin Organic saw the potential in creatively connecting local farms to local schools to help communities thrive. “When Marin Organic was formed, a tiny number of schools were developing school gardens and none were imagining it would be possible to create a local source of food supply for their lunch programs,” says Steve Kinsey, a Marin County supervisor. Now each week, this extraordinary program enables 14,000 students from more than half of Marin’s schools to eat locally grown organic foods, while cultivating a strong connection to place through an innovative Farm Days Program for school-age children.

Visit Marin Organic’s Organic School Lunch and Gleaning Program’s website to learn how this program is transforming school lunch choices for students.