Parma City Schools Leads the Way in Farm-to-School Success with Ohio Schools Council’s Feed Our Future Program
Parma City Schools has been a standout participant in the Ohio Schools Council’s Farm to School Bid Program, which is part of the Feed Our Future initiative. The partnership, backed by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, aims to connect schools, homes, and communities by promoting local food sourcing and educating students about healthy eating habits.
During the 2023-24 school year, Parma City Schools made significant strides with the program. The district spent $218,295 on local food purchases, including apples, lettuce, and pizza dough—its top three items. In total, Parma sourced 175,192 pounds of local food, marking an impressive 35% increase in local food procurement since the 2021-22 school year.
This growth reflects the district’s commitment to providing fresh, nutritious meals to its students while supporting local farms. Emily Gladish, Parma City Schools’ Food Service Supervisor, attributes much of this success to the support from the Ohio Schools Council. “The program and vendor variety this year have been excellent,” she said, emphasizing how the OSC simplifies the process by handling the food bids and compliance aspects, which allows districts to focus on choosing vendors that meet their specific needs.
One of the program’s highlights this year was a unique taste-testing event where students sampled five varieties of watermelon, including sangria, yellow dial, and red-seeded types. “It was so fun watching the students eat yellow watermelon,” Gladish shared, underscoring how these hands-on experiences help educate students about local food in an engaging way.
With a 43% increase in spending across all OSC farm-to-school vendors over the last year, it’s clear that schools like Parma City are embracing the Feed Our Future program to enrich their food services. Gladish offers advice for other districts interested in joining: “Start small. Look at the variety of bids available, pick one thing or one vendor, and grow from there.”
Parma City Schools’ achievements highlight how the partnership between schools and local food vendors can create a healthier, more sustainable future for students and communities alike.
