Step 1 of 4

25%

Local Foods Provided

Which types of local foods are offered as part of meals or snacks at least one time over the course of the year?

check all that apply.

Fruits

Vegetables

Herbs

Grains

Dry beans or peas

Dairy products

Meat, fish, eggs, or other meat alternatives

No local foods are offered

Over the course of the year, how often are local foods offered as part of meals or snacks?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times per month

1 time per week or more

During the growing season, how often are local fruits and/or vegetables offered as part of meals or snacks?

Less than 1 time per month

1-3 times per month

1-2 times per week

3 times per week or more

How does your program communicate about local foods included in meals or snacks?

Check all that apply.

Identify local foods on menus

Provide information about the farms or gardens that produce our local foods

Provide information about and/or recipes for cooking the local foods used in our meals or snacks

Include information in marketing materials, on signs, or when giving tours to prospective families

None of these communication strategies

Gardening

Does your program have a garden for herbs, fruits, or vegetables?

Yes

Which of the following best describes your program's garden?

It is a sensory garden or grows only herbs

It grows herbs, some fruits and/or vegetables for children to learn how food grows

It grows herbs, some fruits and/or vegetables for children to learn how food grows and to taste

It helps children learn how food grows and produces enough fruits and/or vegetables to be part of preschoolers' meals or snacks

Over the course of the year, how many different fruits and/or vegetables grow in your program's garden?

0-2

3-4

5-6

7 or more

How would you describe the variety of herbs, fruits, and/or vegetables that grow in your program's garden?

check all that apply

Plants with different flavors, colors, scents, and/or textures of interest to children

Plants with different parts that are edible (roots, leaves, fruits)

Plants that grow in different seasons

Plants that reflect family input on the cultural, ethnic, or religious food traditions of enrolled children

None of these types of plants

During the growing season, how often is structured gardening time provided to preschool children?

1 time per month or less

2-3 times per month

1 time per week

2 times per week or more

Which of the following garden activities do children do?

Plan what to grow

Examine seeds

Observe seasons and weather

Plant

Weed

Water

Observe plant growth

Observe pollinating insects and birds in the garden

Harvest

None of these activites

check all that apply

Education & Professional Development

How often do teachers offer planned education on food and where it comes from?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times

1 time per week or more

During the growing season, how often do preschool children do cooking or taste test activities with fresh fruits or vegetables?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times per month

1 time per week or more

How often do preschool children have the opportunity?

Never

Rarely

1 time per year or more

1 time per year or more and families are invited to attend

Which types of materials are used to help preschool children learn about food and where it comes from?

check all that apply

Posters or pictures of fruits or vegetables, plant growth, or farming

Books about fruits or vegetables, plant growth, or farming

Fruits, vegetables, and/or farming props in center

Posters, pictures, and/or books about food or farms that reflect the culture, race, or ethnicity of enrolled children, families, and staff

Books that tell the stories of farmers and farmworkers of color

None of these materials are used

How often do teachers talk with children informally about where food come from or how they grow?

Rarely or Never

Sometimes

Often

Each time they see an opportunity

What portion of teachers and staff participate in anall Farm to ECE professional development related to their jobs?

No staff receive any related professional developement

Less than half

More than half

All staff participate in related professional development 1 time per year or more

Which of the following topics have been included in professional development for current teachers and staff on Farm to ECE?

check all that apply

Benefits of supporting local agriculture

What grows locally and when it is available

Where to buy local foods

Local, state, federal, or tribal regulations related to our programs' use of local foods in meals or snacks

Storage, preparation, or cooking of local fruits or vegetables

Planning or maintenance of a garden

Gardening with children

Classroom cooking, taste test activities, or other food education with children

Communication with families about local foods

Racial equity in the food system or cultural competence related to menu planning or nutrition education

Our program's policies on local foods and where our foods come from

None of the above

How does your program help connect families to local foods?

Provide information about what farmers in our area grow and when products are available

Provide information about where and how to buy local foods at lower cost and/or how to use foods assistance benefits to buy local foods

Provide information on storage, preparation, and/or recipes for cooking fruits and vegetables

Provide information or recipes that reflect the cultural, ethnic or religious food traditions of enrolled children and families

Provide taste test opportunities

Host cooking classes or connect families to nearby classes

Provide opportunities to volunteer in the garden or with other classroom activities

Provide access to local foods by sharing garden produce, or hosting a mobile market or CSA pick-up location

None of these activites

check all that apply

How often is input from families used in menu planning so that meals and snacks reflect the cultural, ethnic, and/or religious food traditions of enrolled children?

Rarely or never, or we do not provide any meals or snacks

Only on special occasions or for specific learning activites

Menus occasionally include meals and/or snacks that reflect input from families

Menus regularly include meals and/or snacks that reflect input from families

Policy

Does your program have a written policy on Farm to ECE?

Yes

Which of the following topics are included in your program's written policy related to Farm to ECE?

check all that apply

Importance of using local foods

Types of local foods that are served and how often

Our program's garden and expectations related to gardening

Planned and informal gardening and nutrition education for children

Professional development on "Farm to ECE" topics

Activities that help connect families to local foods

None of the above

Step 1 of 4

25%

Local Foods Provided

Which types of local foods are offered as part of meals or snacks at least one time over the course of the year?

check all that apply.

Fruits

Vegetables

Herbs

Grains

Dry beans or peas

Dairy products

Meat, fish, eggs, or other meat alternatives

No local foods are offered

Over the course of the year, how often are local foods offered as part of meals or snacks?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times per month

1 time per week or more

During the growing season, how often are local fruits and/or vegetables offered as part of meals or snacks?

Less than 1 time per month

1-3 times per month

1-2 times per week

3 times per week or more

How does your program communicate about local foods included in meals or snacks?

Check all that apply.

Identify local foods on menus

Provide information about the farms or gardens that produce our local foods

Provide information about and/or recipes for cooking the local foods used in our meals or snacks

Include information in marketing materials, on signs, or when giving tours to prospective families

None of these communication strategies

Gardening

Does your program have a garden for herbs, fruits, or vegetables?

Yes

Which of the following best describes your program's garden?

It is a sensory garden or grows only herbs

It grows herbs, some fruits and/or vegetables for children to learn how food grows

It grows herbs, some fruits and/or vegetables for children to learn how food grows and to taste

It helps children learn how food grows and produces enough fruits and/or vegetables to be part of preschoolers' meals or snacks

Over the course of the year, how many different fruits and/or vegetables grow in your program's garden?

0-2

3-4

5-6

7 or more

How would you describe the variety of herbs, fruits, and/or vegetables that grow in your program's garden?

check all that apply

Plants with different flavors, colors, scents, and/or textures of interest to children

Plants with different parts that are edible (roots, leaves, fruits)

Plants that grow in different seasons

Plants that reflect family input on the cultural, ethnic, or religious food traditions of enrolled children

None of these types of plants

During the growing season, how often is structured gardening time provided to preschool children?

1 time per month or less

2-3 times per month

1 time per week

2 times per week or more

Which of the following garden activities do children do?

Plan what to grow

Examine seeds

Observe seasons and weather

Plant

Weed

Water

Observe plant growth

Observe pollinating insects and birds in the garden

Harvest

None of these activites

check all that apply

Education & Professional Development

How often do teachers offer planned education on food and where it comes from?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times

1 time per week or more

During the growing season, how often do preschool children do cooking or taste test activities with fresh fruits or vegetables?

Rarely or never

1 time per month

2-3 times per month

1 time per week or more

How often do preschool children have the opportunity?

Never

Rarely

1 time per year or more

1 time per year or more and families are invited to attend

Which types of materials are used to help preschool children learn about food and where it comes from?

check all that apply

Posters or pictures of fruits or vegetables, plant growth, or farming

Books about fruits or vegetables, plant growth, or farming

Fruits, vegetables, and/or farming props in center

Posters, pictures, and/or books about food or farms that reflect the culture, race, or ethnicity of enrolled children, families, and staff

Books that tell the stories of farmers and farmworkers of color

None of these materials are used

How often do teachers talk with children informally about where food come from or how they grow?

Rarely or Never

Sometimes

Often

Each time they see an opportunity

What portion of teachers and staff participate in anall Farm to ECE professional development related to their jobs?

No staff receive any related professional developement

Less than half

More than half

All staff participate in related professional development 1 time per year or more

Which of the following topics have been included in professional development for current teachers and staff on Farm to ECE?

check all that apply

Benefits of supporting local agriculture

What grows locally and when it is available

Where to buy local foods

Local, state, federal, or tribal regulations related to our programs' use of local foods in meals or snacks

Storage, preparation, or cooking of local fruits or vegetables

Planning or maintenance of a garden

Gardening with children

Classroom cooking, taste test activities, or other food education with children

Communication with families about local foods

Racial equity in the food system or cultural competence related to menu planning or nutrition education

Our program's policies on local foods and where our foods come from

None of the above

How does your program help connect families to local foods?

Provide information about what farmers in our area grow and when products are available

Provide information about where and how to buy local foods at lower cost and/or how to use foods assistance benefits to buy local foods

Provide information on storage, preparation, and/or recipes for cooking fruits and vegetables

Provide information or recipes that reflect the cultural, ethnic or religious food traditions of enrolled children and families

Provide taste test opportunities

Host cooking classes or connect families to nearby classes

Provide opportunities to volunteer in the garden or with other classroom activities

Provide access to local foods by sharing garden produce, or hosting a mobile market or CSA pick-up location

None of these activites

check all that apply

How often is input from families used in menu planning so that meals and snacks reflect the cultural, ethnic, and/or religious food traditions of enrolled children?

Rarely or never, or we do not provide any meals or snacks

Only on special occasions or for specific learning activites

Menus occasionally include meals and/or snacks that reflect input from families

Menus regularly include meals and/or snacks that reflect input from families

Policy

Does your program have a written policy on Farm to ECE?

Yes

Which of the following topics are included in your program's written policy related to Farm to ECE?

check all that apply

Importance of using local foods

Types of local foods that are served and how often

Our program's garden and expectations related to gardening

Planned and informal gardening and nutrition education for children

Professional development on "Farm to ECE" topics

Activities that help connect families to local foods

None of the above

GoNAPSACC Farm to ECE Self Assessment

Local Foods Provided

Gardening

Education & Professional Development

Policy

Local Foods Provided

Gardening

Education & Professional Development

Policy

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