About OUSD Harvest of the Month

Harvest of the Month (HOTM) is an initiative designed to celebrate the bounty and diversity of fruits and vegetables grown in California. Each month, we will be highlighting a seasonal and locally sourced fruit or vegetable on our menus, through recipe videos, newsletters, giveaways, and more! 

Harvest of the Month offers students the chance to explore local seasonal produce in an educational setting that promotes nutritious eating, healthy habits, and an appreciation for our farmers and the way our food is grown.

In OUSD, we use HOTM to connect Environment, Food, and Garden Education Programming and Nutrition Services initiatives.

OUSD partners with Alameda County Nutrition Services to choose items for each month that are in season and grown in California, and that can be grown in Oakland. More information from the county HOTM program can be found here. 




How can my site implement HOTM at my school?

Oakland schools, staff, and students: make sure to check this website for lessons, resources, videos, and more, updated monthly!

Find and promote the Harvest of the Month on OUSD produce bars.

Each year we recruit for Environment, Food and Garden Food Champion's to represent their schools and promote healthy food and nutrition in their schools! Recruitment happens in May and August.

HOTM Parent Letter (1).pdf

HOTM Family Letter

Designed for flexible use, this family letter can be edited to include the different ways your school implements HOTM, or shared as it! For a personalized touch, remove the "Dear..." section and handwrite the names of the students' guardians. 

HOTM in Gardens

Grow harvest of the month produce in your school garden. If your site has an EFG Champion, you can access the OUSD Seed & Start program to request plant seeds and starts at the right time to plant and grown them in time to harvest during the appropriate month. Observe it, care for it, harvest it, eat it, share it!

Be sure to follow the Preparing your Garden Harvest Protocol in the OUSD School Garden Toolkit to ensure food safety when harvesting.

HOTM in Classrooms

The Center provides many education materials to support Harvest of the Month education! Check out the page for each item for links to resources for each month.

Educators and other school staff are encouraged to:

HOTM in Cafeterias

Students are encouraged to try to the locally sourced Harvest of the Month (HOTM) item (along with all items) on the school produce bars that exist at all OUSD schools. The HOTM item is highlighted with clings on the produce bars and posters about the local farmers that are selected specifically to provide the HOTM produce.  

HOTM Taste Tests

Taste tests are a great way to encourage students to try the HOTM produce on produce bars in the cafeteria. Do a taste test activity using the produce on the produce bar. If your site has an EFG Champion, they can request special deliveries a box of HOTM produce for taste tests via the Seed & Start program. Check the Taste Test Box Delivery Schedule for when taste test boxes are delivered to sites. 

Try using this HOTM Taste Test Protocol to help you set, organize, and conduct a successful taste test. Explore the Field Trip Recipes for more ideas for how to prepare food.

Taste test testimonial: “We have a huge increase in students willing to try items from the produce bar! This push has supported students in feeling full. Often students don't want to choose one item and would like both fruits or both veggies!”

HOTM Taste Test Protocol V.2 (12-1-23)

HOTM Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are a great ~ and beautiful ~ way to educate your school community about harvest of the month! 

HOTM Bulletin Slides
HOTM Bulletin Board Rubric V.2 (PUBLIC)

HOTM Bulletin Board Rubric

Harvest of the Month (HOTM) Smoothie Recipes, to go with OUSD Bike Blender.pdf