The month of October was all about recognizing the importance of local producers and farms. It is designated “National Farm to School Month” as communities, schools, early care and education sites, organizations, and farms come together to celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients. For more information on National Farm to School Month, visit: https://www.farmtoschool.org/our-work/farm-to-school-month

October was also the month for the “Great Lakes Apple Crunch”, which took place on October 10th. Known as the “crunch heard around the world”, participants across the regional United States are encouraged to bite into a fresh, locally grown apple at noon. The “Great Lakes Apple Crunch” is intended to recognize farm to school efforts. In recent years, nearly 150,000 people registered to crunch together, including schools, daycares, workplaces, hospitals, etc. The local FoodWIse team celebrated by sampling a variety of local apples and voting for their favorites. The winner: honey crisp! For more information on the Great Lakes Apple Crunch, visit: https://healthyliving.extension.wisc.edu/events/apple-crunch/