Harvest of the Month
Harvest of the Month
Encouraging kids and families to eat Wisconsin-grown fruits and vegetables
1 in 2
children ages 1-5 do not each a daily vegetable
1 in 3
children ages 1-5 do not eat a daily fruit
Table of Contents
Overview
The Wisconsin Harvest of the Month campaign encourages children and families to eat more fruits and vegetables by featuring a seasonal, Wisconsin-grown fruit or vegetable each month. Students taste, explore, and learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.
Why Harvest of the Month? Research shows the many benefits of the Harvest of the Month campaign include:
- Encourages kids to try new fruits and vegetables
- Increases the amount of fruits and vegetables kids eat
- Reduces food waste
- Grows school meal participation
- Supports Wisconsin farmers and local economy
Whom We Serve
Ways We Help
Resource Library: Downloadable resources to help schools implement the program.
Staff Support: Assistance in developing healthy environments for students.
Networking: Connect with community and school leaders statewide.
Support for Related Initiatives:
– Nutrition Education
– Wellness Policies
– Farm to School and ECE
– School Gardens
How It Works
Monthly Promotions
Serve the featured fruit or vegetable in school meals, snacks, or in the classroom. Encourage students to try the featured food by displaying promotional materials and/or conducting taste testing.
Educational Activities
Engage students in learning about the featured fruit or vegetable through taste testing and educational activities.
Family Engagement
Share resources with families and encourage healthy eating at home through newsletters, social media, and more.
Participation in Harvest of the Month is flexible and can be tailored to your school or organization. View downloadable resources.
Success & Impact
Harvest of the Month Teaches About Wisconsin Fruits & Vegetables
Fond du Lac County Nutrition Educator Melanie Phillips’ unique approach to implementing HOM in her community built on teamwork and connections, from students supporting one another to taste a new food, to educators and administrators collaborating as they explored seasonal, local Wisconsin produce.
The students were really excited each month. They were eager to try new items and we ended up adding some new side options to the menu due to their reception of the program.
Students tasted potatoes that were roasted and steamed in the cafeteria. The Extension Educator set up a display board and students could vote on which they liked better by putting a sticker on their choice. The roasted potatoes won and we were able to cook them again for our students. The potatoes were donated by a local farm.
My kids picked out radishes at the farmers market because of the program. They were excited to get home and try them.
Quick Links
Get Involved
Bring Harvest of the Month to your school or organization. Access free, downloadable Harvest of the Month resources.
Extension colleagues can support implementing a comprehensive Harvest of the Month campaign and connecting with other local food initiatives in your community.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding this program in Wisconsin, please contact us through the info below:
Emily Latham
Health communications outreach program manager
Other Programs You May Like
Great Apple Crunch
Celebrating local producers to promote local fresh food and encourage healthy eating during National Farm to School Month.
WI Chili Lunch
Celebrate Wisconsin-grown foods with a Chili Lunch event on February’s National Chili Day.
FoodShare at Farmers’ Markets
Using SNAP/FoodShare helps Wisconsinites access fresh, local food and helps Farmers Market Managers make healthy options accessible to more customers.
