DELAWARE- The Delaware Farm Bureau, in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), has introduced an educational program designed to promote agricultural awareness among elementary students. The “Educating through Specialty Crop Crates” initiative, funded through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in Fall 2023, provides Delaware teachers with unique resources to enhance agricultural education in their classrooms.
This program aims to familiarize young students with the diverse specialty crops grown in Delaware. By integrating these agricultural lessons into elementary education, DEFB hopes to encourage healthier eating habits and greater appreciation of where food comes from, particularly in urban areas where farming is less visible.
"The ‘Educating through Specialty Crop Crates’ program is essential to increasing the awareness of specialty crops, especially amongst our youngest consumers," DEFB Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul said. "Due to the lack of farmland around some of these students, they are unaware of where their food comes from and how it is grown. This program will create early exposure to Delaware agriculture and demonstrate how agriculture touches all of our lives."
DFB invites elementary school teachers across Delaware to apply for a specialty crop crate, which includes a variety of hands-on activities and educational materials focused on specialty crops. DFB hopes these crates help students to develop a willingness to try new fruits and vegetables.
Teachers interested in incorporating these agricultural lessons into their curriculum are encouraged to apply by June 30.