Farm to School Hub - Alachua County Public Schools

Aikido of Gainesville, Inc.
4424 SW 35th Ter

Students learn about the local food system from seed to plate while helping bring more fresh, local food into Alachua County lunchrooms.

The Alachua County Farm to School to Work Hub Began as a joint venture between the Food and Nutrition Department (FNS) and the Exceptional Student Education Department (ESE) of the Alachua County Public Schools. The GET program (Growing Educational Training) of the ESE department had been teaching students horticultural skills. FNS had recently been awarded a USDA Farm to School grant to ensure mo

re healthy, local fruits and vegetables were served in the school lunch program. Soon a dilapidated greenhouse at Loften High School was being transformed into a vegetable-producing machine, providing 150 heads of lettuce weekly for use in school salads, as well as a number of other vegetables appearing on the weekly menus. During the first year, the Loften school kitchen became an aggregation facility where produce from local farms was packaged along with the Loften produce for distribution to local schools. School garden teachers and champions were being trained at the Hub where they also picked up garden transplants grown from seed by the GET students (which would provide produce for school lunches). And GET students began creating tasty dishes featuring local produce to test at the high school and take on the road to local elementary schools with the hope that some of these dishes will find their way to school lunch menus on a regular basis. The Farm to School to Work Hub is working, and students are receiving valuable training in horticulture, food production, food safety, and nutrition while operating it. The amazing progress of the program is a result of an outpouring of community support. Forage Farm and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences were involved from the very beginning of the project and have been vital partners to its success. In addition, numerous other community supporters and donors have contributed money, equipment, and expertise that the project would not have been able to move forward without. This is a fruitful collaboration that mirrors the diversity and unity found in healthy food systems. The fruit is our students, growing healthy and preparing for the future.

08/17/2026

We are so honored to host these gardens. 🫶🏼

08/07/2026

Our summer garden at the HUB was busy growing gourds! We will dry them and make bird houses with the students.

07/22/2026

FREE MEALS FOR CHILDREN (0-18)

Summer feeding pick up sites have been extended for two weeks (July 27th & August 3rd). It is very easy to get seven days of free breakfast and lunch for children.

FIVE LOCATIONS! See flyer below for locations and times.

You only need:
*Child present OR
*Have child's birth certificate OR
*Complete a form on site (Child's name, Age, DOB).

All sites are quick, simple drive through service.

The free summer meals program has been extended at five pick up locations! On Monday, July 27 and Monday, August 3, families can pick up a 7-day meal kit with breakfast and lunch for children 18 and younger. Pick up times and locations are:

Waldo Library Branch:15150 NE US Hwy 301, Waldo (9:00-9:30am)

Faith Mission Baptist Church: 2905 SE 21 Ave, Gainesville (10:15-11:00am)

Brookside: 100 NW 146th Dr, Newberry (12:30-1pm)

Catherine Taylor Park: 18100 Douglass St, High Springs (1:45-2:30pm)

Sivia Center: 3700 NE 53 Ave, Gainesville (5-6pm)

07/21/2026

Florida farmers: Did you know there’s an online directory designed to connect you with schools looking to source local produce?

With Florida Farm Connect, you can create a profile to showcase what you produce and when it’s available, and discover schools interested in partnering with Florida farms for school meals and agriculture education.

Learn more here 👉 FLFarmConnect.com

07/20/2026

Come see us today at one of our locations! Alachua County School Meals-Your Choice Fresh summer meals feeding the children!

Don’t forget! Monday 7/20 is meal pick up day at our 12 meal pick up locations!

07/20/2026

Eat well at Alachua County School Meals-Your Choice Fresh knowing our sourced aquaponic lettuce for our school meals is grown under strict food safety protocols which we (and our vendors) take very seriously - every day! Controlled environments and disciplined processes make all the difference.

2026 FL Farm to School Conference Highlights

06/29/2026

What is Farm to School? Alachua Farm to School was able to be a part of the Florida Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness video at this year's conference. Alachua County School Meals-Your Choice Fresh has a commitment to the Farm to School initiative!

2026 FL Farm to School Conference Highlights This is "2026 FL Farm to School Conference Highlights" by FNW on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/02/2026

We can't wait to kick off summer with you tomorrow! Lots of fun events! We will also be giving out 5 days of breakfast and lunch meals! See you there!

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Location

Gainesville

Website

http://www.farm2schoolalachua.com/

Address

2802 NE 8th Avenue
Gainesville, FL
32641

Farm to School Hub - Alachua County Public Schools

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