An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
  •  

August 27, 2021 - Mechanicsburg, PA

Wolf Administration Highlights Pennsylvania's Farm to School Success, Announce Next Steps to Ensure Ag Workforce Security

At Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Vonda Ramp, Pennsylvania's Director of Childhood Nutrition Programs, today where he revealed that over the past three years, Pennsylvania schools offering farm to school programming increased by more than 137 percent since last surveyed.

According to recently released Farm to School Census data by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania schools are increasingly offering programs that grow agricultural awareness and provide locally produced foods in schools that combat food access issues and increase nutrition.

"Pennsylvania's farm to school programs provide nearly one million Pennsylvania kids with access fresh, healthy produce and simultaneously spark an interest in agriculture," said Redding. "Empowering students to know where their food comes from is one of the most powerful tools we can provide to today's youth."



PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_001.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_002.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> From left; Meredith Seidel, teacher at Hill Top Academy; PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding; Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Pennsylvania commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, and Vonda Ramp, PA Dept. of Education director of Childhood Nutrition Programs, take a tour of a garden during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_003.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding shakes hands with Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Pennsylvania commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_004.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_005.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Pennsylvania commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_006.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> A pumpkin is pictured at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_007.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Dr. Andria Saia, executive director of Capital Area Intermediate, shakes hands with PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_008.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Matt and Julie Henninger, of Good Keeper Farm, speak during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_009.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_010.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Jennifer Sciacca, of Hill Top Academy and grant project manager of Farm to School, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_011.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Dr. Andria Saia, executive director of Capital Area Intermediate, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_012.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Vonda Ramp, PA Dept. of Education director of Childhood Nutrition Programs, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_013.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Pennsylvania commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_014.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Matt and Julie Henninger, of Good Keeper Farm, speak during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_015.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Vonda Ramp, PA Dept. of Education director of Childhood Nutrition Programs, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_016.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_017.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Jennifer Sciacca, of Hill Top Academy and grant project manager of Farm to School, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_018.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Representative Sheryl Delozier speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_019.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Pennsylvania commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, speaks during a press conference, which highlighted the success of Pennsylvania's farm to school programs, at Hill Top Academy in Mechanicsburg on Friday, August 27, 2021.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/19054_AGRIC_FarmToSchool_NK_020.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a>