Implementation and Evaluation of the Farm to School Program in the School District of the Menomonie Area Elementary Schools PDF Download

Author: Kara R. Helget
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational evaluation
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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Book Description
The overall goal of the research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Farm to School program in Wisconsin, specifically in the School District of the Menomonie Area, for increasing acceptance of and knowledge about fruits and vegetables in school-aged children. The Specific Aims were to: 1) determine if monthly exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables through a Harvest of the Month program increases the acceptance of fruits and vegetables; and 2) assess the effectiveness of 30-minute nutrition education lessons on increasing the knowledge about fresh fruits and vegetables. Data were collected through pre- and post-surveys administered to 4th and 5th grade students in the School District of the Menomonie Area and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. The data indicated exposure to three taste testing sessions through the AE program did not increase acceptance (p = 0.197) of fruits and vegetables, but may have improved nutrition knowledge (p = 0.003). Nutrition knowledge (p = 0.05) was also improved in those students receiving nutrition education lessons, but not to a higher degree than those exposed to only taste testing. Future research should aim to evaluate Farm to School programs in their entirety as opposed to individual components.