Harvest of the Month was initially created by several local school districts in California as part of a broader nutrition education effort targeted to low-income students. Recognizing the value of this approach, the California Department of Public Health adopted Harvest of the Month in 2005, launching a statewide effort that is standardized, cost-effective, replicable, and available to all.
Harvest of the Month aims to:
Increase access to fruits and vegetables through school meal programs, farm-to-school programs, classrooms, school gardens, farmers' markets, grocery stores, community gardens, worksites, and other community-based locations.
Increase consumers' preference for fruits and vegetables.
Increase consumption of locally grown food items by connecting growers to their communities through farmers' markets, food retail stores, schools, and food banks, among others.
Increase participation in daily physical activity and an understanding of why it is important to our health.
Expand familiarity with California grown fruits and vegetables, local farmers, the state's rich agricultural bounty, and how food travels from the farm to our plates.
Harvest of the Month provides materials for students, families, and the community to engage in hands-on opportunities to explore, taste, and learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and being active every day.