Why Exhibit
Why should my company exhibit at the show?
Does your business have a product or service that is related to the organic lifestyle? Do you or your company support the concept of living green? Do you agree that learning at an early age to live and grow your own fruits and vegetables are a key element in training our children to make better choices about health and fitness? If so, then, your company is the perfect company to display at our show!
Support School Garden Programs?
Grow Organic Day is a non profit company who’s sole purpose is to support garden programs in Southern California schools. The Californian Department of Education indicates that nutrition is an essential building block for student success. Healthy, active, and well-nourished children are more likely to attend school and are more prepared and motivated to learn. State Superintendent Jack O’Connell has made the health and fitness of California’s students one of his top priorities. He is working with the Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of Education and other organizations to ensure that schools create an environment that supports students in developing lifelong habits of nutrition and fitness. YOU can do your part too!
A Garden in Every School … a California foundation…
Recognizing the educational and health benefits of school gardens, the California Department of Education launched the Garden in Every School Initiative in 1995. Subsequently, the Governor and Legislature, acknowledging the value of school garden projects, enacted several bills that promote instructional school gardens:
Assembly Bill 1014, Instructional School Gardens (1999) – establishes the instructional school garden program.
Senate Bill 19, The Pupil Health, Nutrition, and Achievement Act (2001) – identifies school gardens as one way to increase student preferences for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Assembly Bill 1634, Nutrition Education (2002) – further supports school gardens through identifying best practices and supporting a grant program.
Assembly Bill 1535, California Instructional School Garden Program (2006) – authorizes the CDE to award $15 million for grants to promote, develop, and sustain instructional school gardens.
The Nutrition Services Division leads the Garden in Every School program and collaborates with individuals and organizations that support school gardens, including public and private agricultural agencies, waste management agencies, health agencies, and others. With 3000 school gardens, the Garden in Every School program reaches throughout the state to enhance education and health.
The mission of the garden program has expanded to include links with surrounding agricultural areas through school cafeterias, while maintaining the natural connection with cooking in the classroom and school recycling. This concept of linking schools with local farmers to provide fresher, tastier, healthier school meals is known as Farm to School and is considered a part of a healthy school environment. When fresh, farm-direct, seasonal food is included in school lunch programs, both children and farmers benefit. Combining healthy school lunch choices with nutrition education, farm visits, school gardens, and cooking projects in the classroom gives children a better opportunity to develop healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.
For more information about the Garden in Every School program, please contact the Nutrition Services Division, California Department of Education, at 800-952-5609 or 916-445-0850.
Connect with thousand of new qualified clients
Connect with thousands of new clients in the Southern California market. The show is two days!