When Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida in September of 2022, our school partners from the Healthy Living Collaboration in Lee County and other areas were left with major damage at their sites. At the time, FNP had planned to work with The School District of Lee County on Smarter Lunchrooms Movement strategies to improve healthy choices in the cafeterias. But with the storm came a greater need to help rebuild the school gardens that supplied some of the fresh produce to lunchrooms throughout the district.
Over the next year, FNP provided strategic planning support, technical assistance on farm to school implementation, and gardening supplies to 15 area schools. Vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers began growing in the fall. Since then, the schools have harvested close to 8,000 pounds of fresh produce from the newly refurbished gardens.
