Fall River Schools Join a Growing Movement to Teach Kids Food Literacy

Fall River is the latest school district to benefit from the Marion Institute's Grow Education Farm-to-School Program. Students have worked hard to build their very own gardens which will be used to educate classmates this fall.

“These gardens represent more than just a place to grow vegetables,” Marion Institute Executive Director Liz Wiley said. “They create opportunities for students to connect with where food comes from, develop healthy habits, and engage with science and environmental stewardship in a hands-on and meaningful way.”

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Connecting SouthCoast Classrooms with Healthy Food

Grow Education Farm-to-School is all about connecting local students with local food. The program allows students in local public schools to build their own gardens, learn about food literacy and discover how food impacts their community.

READ MORE: This Beautiful Little Compton Garden Is Reservation Only

The goal of the Marion Institute is to strengthen the local food system on the SouthCoast and to ensure that everyone can access and enjoy health-promoting food.

A Growing Network of SouthCoast School Districts

Fall River joins the list of SouthCoast school districts to implement the program into their curriculums. The Grow Education Farm-to-School Program is currently offered at schools in Rochester, Marion, Mattapoisett, Wareham, Westport and New Bedford.

Courtesy Fall River Public Schools

Elevating Hands-On Science and Sustainability

"We know our students will be excited about learning, planting, and caring for something they helped create,” Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Brian Raposo said. “These gardens will offer students a fun and engaging way to learn about science, agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability. We are grateful for our partnership with the Marion Institute and look forward to expanding these experiences to more schools across Fall River Public Schools in the years ahead."