Farm to Child Care Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to assist child care center and family child care home directors and staff to take the concept of Farm to Child Care and put it into action. Resources included here will help directors, cooks and teachers implement Farm to Child Care: such as where to purchase North Carolina grown produce, menu planning, activities for the classroom to recipes for fresh, healthy and tasty meals by season. Over time, additional resources for the toolkit will be provided and you should add them to your binder for a complete toolbox.

1. Overview
   • About the Toolkit
   • Farm to Child Care Partners
   • What is Farm to Child Care?
   • Why Farm to Child Care?
   • Eat Local, Eat Healthy brochure
   • Introducing Farm to Child Care Kickoff Presentation 2015
2. Policy/ Practice Change
   • Parent Handbook
3. Purchasing Local Produce
   • Buying Locally Grown Fruits and Vegetables
     • Questions to Ask Produce Provider
     • How to Start the Conversation
     • How to Choose Best Method for Purchasing Local Foods – F2CC Question Tree
   • Buying Directly from Farmers
     • Brodgens Produce
     • Chickadee Farms
     • Cooterville Farm
     • Double T Farm
     • Down2Earth Farms
     • Fat Radish Farm
     • Footprints in the Garden
     • Purple Martin Community Farm
     • Robert Jones
     • Rob’s Fresh Produce
     • Sweet Peas Urban Garden
     • T&K Farm
     • WellFed Garden
   • Buying from Distributors
     • Freshpoint
     • Farmer Foodshare Wholesale Market
   • Buying from Fruit and Vegetable Box Delivery
   • Buying from a Centralized Kitchen
     • CCSA Sample Menu
     • CCSA Meal Service Price List 2018-19
     • Sample Portion Sheet
     • Meal Service Fall 2014 Newsletter
     • Sample Delivery Receipt
   • Buying from a Farmers’ Market
4. Understanding Rules and Regulations
   • USDA Memo – Local Foods and CACFP
   • Rules and Regulations – Gardening, Composting and Cooking
5. Menu Planning
   • Menu Planning
   • NC Seasonality Chart
   • Produce Fact Sheets
   • Food Buying Calculator
   • Seasonal Menu Planning
6. Resources for Kitchen Staff
   • NC Seasonality Chart
   • How to Properly Store Fruits & Vegetables
   • Average Fruit Yields
   • Average Vegetable Yields
   • Tips for Using a Knife
   • Knowing Knives
   • 12 Delicious, Easy Ways to Enjoy Fruit
   • 12 Delicious, Easy Ways to Enjoy Vegetables
   • Controlling Food Waste
   • Common Cooking Terms
7. Resources for Classroom Staff
   • NC Seasonality Chart
   • Book List
   • Kids… Get Cooking! Fast and Fun Recipes
   • Growing Minds Materials Available for Purchase
   • Growing Minds Resources
   • Harvest of the Month Resources
   • Natural Learning Initiative Local Foods – Child Care Center Production Gardens
8. Sharing with Families
   • Marketing Farm to Child Care and Engaging Families
   • Using Social Media to Market Your Center as a Local Food Provider