The Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is launching a farm-to-table initiative to improve food quality at schools and also support family farms.

“For the MAG .. it is important that children learn to consume and produce vegetables. In addition, this pilot plan demonstrates that it can become an engine to generate local economy, support production and contribute to food security,” said Ivannia Quesada Villalobos, MAG deputy minister, who visited one of the project sites.

The program, called Escuelas y CEN-CINAI Sostenibles, is being piloted in the southern and central eastern regions of Costa Rica, with en eye to stimulating local economies and enhance school nutrition with fresh, local produce.

The program will include 58 schools, 10 CEN-CINAI (Child and Infant Nutrition and Feeding Centers) and 8 farmer organizations, and involves a partnership with several government ministries including education, health, and local agricultural agencies.

The initiative will benefit 10,800 children, and 296 farmers and their families in the Brunca region which includes the counties of Osa, Golfito, Corredores, Coto Brus and Buenos Aires – all in the province of Puntarenas, and Pérez Zeledón – in the province of San José.

Another component of the program consists of agricultural extension with 130 teachers in the southern region’s 10 infant nutrition centers who will be trained in setting up school gardens.

The farmer organizations to be included are the following cooperatives: CAC Fila Guinea, Sabalito Coffee Growers Cooperative – COOPESABALITO, APROFRUT, COOPECOVI, CAC de Buenos Aires, CAC de Pérez Zeledón, and CAC de Frailes.

“We are analyzing the replicability of this project in other regions of the country. It is important to note that institutional coordination is a key element, which contributes to the strengthening of family farmer organizations from a holistic perspective,” commented Octavio Ramírez, resident coordinator of FAO in Costa Rica.