compiled by Joan Qazi, WSFFN Taste Washington Day compiled by Joan Qazi, WSFFN Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network helps schools find farmers who will sell locally grown crops to their school meal programs AND supports events like Taste Washington Day. For more information, please visit our website at www.wsffn.org

Washington State farmers grow many different types of fruit, vegetables, and grain.

WA produces 64% of apples grown in the US Our State is known for growing the most apples, pears, sweet cherries, and asparagus in all of the USA. WA produces 64% of apples grown in the US

Farmers can be young or old, men or women, tall or short Farmers can be young or old, men or women, tall or short. They just have to like working outside.

Without farms and farmers, we would not have all this delicious food to keep us healthy.

That is why every September, a few weeks after school starts, we celebrate Taste Washington Day!

Taste Washington Day* is an annual celebration of Washington grown foods served in school meals. *sponsored by WSDA Farm to School Program and Washington School Nutrition Association

In some schools, farmers will come into the lunch room to let kids sample the fruits or vegetables they have grown.

In other schools, older students help teach younger students about the foods grown in Washington State.

You might even get to meet a giant carrot, but only eat the carrots that grow underground with green tops above.

One place, those carrots grow is in school gardens where students plant and harvest all sorts of crops. Does your school have an edible garden?

On Taste Washington Day and everyday, always try to eat your colors– red, green, orange, purple, and blue fruits or veggies!

So be sure to eat school lunch that is grown by Washington farmers—you will love it!