Oconee County Schools recently received the 2019 Golden Radish Award (Gold Level) for its farm to school efforts. OCS received the Gold Level Award for excellence in categories including offering locally grown items, students participating in taste tests, farm to school promotions, farmer visits to schools, maintaining edible school gardens, and more. 

“I commend our entire School Nutrition staff for their commitment to student and staff wellness,” said Superintendent Jason L. Branch. “Our program does an outstanding job providing locally grown items and helping students understand where their food comes from through school gardens and farmer visits. Our students are learning important lessons to help them make good lifelong choices about their health and wellbeing.”

The review committee was comprised of representatives from Bright from the Start, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Organics, and the University of Georgia. Below are highlights of OCS’ School Nutrition Program from the 2019 school year:

Locally grown items are served every day of the school year.

Sixteen taste tests took place at schools for students to provide feedback on menu options.

There were 30 total school-based interactions with local farmers.

There were 20 lessons taught in schools that incorporated farm to school components.

All schools have or are planting edible gardens.

Elementary cooking and gardening clubs are in place at some school sites.