WCCF to Bring More Farm Products to Early Care Program

The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has announced the creation of the Farm to Early Care and Education project, which will bring the farm to table movement to child care programs across the state. The project is funded by a $150,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

As part of the new effort, WCCF will partner with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, the University of Wisconsin Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Supporting Families Together Association, and Community GroundWorks to successfully implement this project.

“All kids deserve to eat healthy food,” said WCCF Director Ken Taylor. “Many young children get the majority of their calories in the child care setting and a large portion of these children come from low-income families where they may have a limited access to nutritious food. That’s why it’s important that child care centers are providing healthy foods.”

Taylor adds that the program will help improve children’s health while supporting Wisconsin’s farmers by promoting local, fresh food in early care and education programs.

Some of the child care program practices that will be developed include gardening, sourcing local foods for meals and snacks, farm field trips, nutrition/agriculture lessons, taste testing, and family engagement.