LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Sept. 7, 2010)—St. Mary's County Public Schools will participate in Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week from September 13 through the 17th by including locally-grown products in school lunches, school officials announced. Select schools will also showcase this event with outside display stations set up and manned by school staff, local farmers, and University of Maryland extension educators. Lessons on healthy eating and farming will also be delivered in the classrooms.
Showcased events will be held at Hollywood Elementary School on Monday, September 13, 9:15 a.m-2:30 p.m.; George Washington Carver Elementary School on Wednesday, September 15, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; and Dynard Elementary School on Friday, September 17, 9:20 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
New this year to the statewide Homegrown Lunch Week program is a YouTube video contest asking students what buying local means to them. In a video lasting no longer than three minutes, students must thoughtfully and creatively answer the question, “What does ‘local food’ mean to you?” The first place winner(s) will receive an Apple iPod Touch, a Maryland State Park Pass, and a school lunchtime visit from MDA Secretary Buddy Hance. The deadline to submit the video is September 20. Visit
www.marylandfarmtoschool.org for details.
This program aims to bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunch rooms and to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet. More information about Maryland's Farm to School Initiative is available at http://www.mda.state.md.us/mdfarmtoschool/ .