FRESHFARM FoodPrints

FRESHFARM FoodPrints integrates gardening, cooking, and nutrition education into the curriculum through a model of partnerships, standards-based lessons, cafeteria connections and food access. Our expert educators teach hands-on lessons that get students excited about growing, preparing and enjoying fresh, local whole foods — and bring science, math and social studies to life — with the goal of improving health outcomes of children and families.

7,600
students

FoodPrints engages students PK through 5th grade in, hands-on, FoodPrints classes in kitchen classrooms and school gardens throughout the school year

21
schools

FoodPrints partners with DC Public elementary schools across the city to embed food and garden educators

63
standards-based lessons

Lessons in the FoodPrints curriculum are all aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core as well as DC standards and national food education standards

FoodPrints programming is grounded in tackling the global ‘syndemic’ of obesity, climate change, and hunger across Washington, DC:

  • 45% of the U.S. population suffers from at least one chronic disease, and 80% of chronic disease is diet – and lifestyle – related. (The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease)
  • 46% of the District of Columbia’s population is either diagnosed with or at high risk for diabetes and diet-related diseases.
  • Few grocery stores and farm markets contrasted with high prevalence of processed fast foods in high-need areas of DC exemplify the ‘food deserts’ where many families make food choices.

Given these health realities, a model like FoodPrints — which equips youngsters with familiarity with, skills to prepare, and desire to eat nutritious foods — is critical.

See the FoodPrints Model

To learn more, please contact us at foodprintsdc@freshfarm.org

We harvest, cook, plant, and write in your journal. We learn about the environment, nutrition, food, and recycling. And the best part - COOKING and EATING!

My three kids come home begging me to cook the same things they made in FoodPrints!

It’s critical that this kind of program gets into schools, across the city, regardless of the economic status of the neighborhood, and that it is sustained.