eval report cover.indd - New Jersey Farm to School Network Wiki

RHM-CA: RIVERSIDE HARVEST OF THEMONTH PROGRAM, CALIFORNIAConclusions Farm to School and RecommendationsProgram ProfilesThe RHM-CA program was initiated at JeffersonElementary School in October 2005, to supportthe existing Farm Fresh Salad Bar offering in thecafeteria. The project was implemented and evaluated bythe Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College.Supported by the California Network for a Healthy California,project activities included monthly taste tests oflocal produce items; development and promotion of nutritioneducation materials; farmers market tours for students,teachers and parents; farmer visits to classrooms;gardening and parent education activities. A total of 629students, teachers and parents were reached during thisproject.Two farmers who supplied to the salad bar program in thecafeteria also participated in the farmer in the classroomactivities. The project was most successful in creating ayear-round program that provided innovative and recurringnutrition education opportunities for third gradestudents.Riverside UnifiedSchool District, CAFree / reduced mealeligibility: 47.5%Total schools: 47Enrollment: 43,052Demographics:50.6 % Hispanic, 34.5% WhiteLocal product used in:Taste tests, in-classnutrition educationOther programcomponents: Farm FreshSalad bars, tours to farmsand farmers markets, farmerin the classroom, schoolgarden, parent educationPre and post tests were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the project for teachers involvedin activities. Evaluation activities for students were planned, though only those involvingteachers were conducted, due to changes in the district’s calendar and delays in receivingHuman Subjects Research approvals from the Institutional Review Board.Limited data was available from this project evaluation. The project may continue at thisschool, Jefferson Elementary, in the coming years, with potential for collecting more detailedinformation on the impacts of the nutrition education on student knowledge, attitudes andbehaviors about nutrition and healthy foods.California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families, Annual Report for “Riverside Harvest of the Month,”project number 05-46018, 2006.78 Bearing Fruit: Farm to School Evaluation Resources and Recommendations