About the Louisiana Harvest of the Month Program

The Louisiana Harvest of the Month (LA HOM) program showcases locally grown foods in Louisiana schools, institutions, and communities. Each month, participating sites focus on promoting one locally grown item (e.g., winter squash). Activities could include serving local items in a meal or snack, offering taste tests, displaying LA HOM materials, or teaching educational lessons and activities. Louisiana Harvest of the Month is the perfect way to launch or grow a farm to school program, as it provides an easy framework to follow and ready-to-use materials. Participating sites will receive a free packet of materials as well as guides, additional resources, and training.

Finding Local on Louisiana MarketMaker

Use the searchable database on Louisiana MarketMaker to find farmers and food producers interested in supplying to your school. If you're a farmer or fisherman who wants to sell to schools and other institutions, list your business in the Louisiana MarketMaker directory today. Not sure how to create an account? For in-depth tutorial videos on navigating MarketMaker, please visit the Louisiana Farm to School YouTube Channel and click on the Louisiana MarketMaker playlist to watch.

How You Can Participate

• Gather your team and register for LA HOM today! Your team should include at least two people, such as a food service staff member, administrator, and educator or provider.

• Find and integrate LA HOM foods into at least one school meal or snack per month. Our LA HOM recipes and menu templates make it easy to showcase LA HOM foods. You can also incorporate LA HOM foods into your existing recipes or feature items in the salad bar.

• Involve parents and community members. LA HOM is the perfect way for parents or other community members (such as master gardeners, LSU extension agents, college students, non-profit organizations, ranchers, farmers, food businesses, grocery stores, etc.) to be involved. Send recipes and LA HOM handouts home with students to share with parents.

• Display the posters in the cafeteria or on a bulletin board. Additional posters are available for order.

• Conduct at least one LaHOM lesson each month. Lessons are available by grade level clusters and are linked to core curricular areas with an emphasis on science and mathematics. Coordinate with food service staff so LA HOM activities occur before the item is served in a meal or snack. The most effective lessons are ones that include a taste test or a cooking project, but start small and make it manageable for the whole school year. Additional lessons, educational standards information, and guides are available for registered sites.

• Conduct taste tests to help students become adventurous eaters. Sites should conduct at least one taste test in the cafeteria or classroom each month and submit voting results using the Tried It, Liked It, Loved It voting system. Use the Taste Test Guide to set up a taste test system that works for you.

Join the Program!

Do you want to start Harvest of the Month at your school or institution? Louisiana K-12 schools and after school programs can register free-of-charge at any point during the school year. In addition to receiving all LA HOM materials in a printed packet, on a jump drive, and on a Google Drive, registered sites will have access to workshops, professional development opportunities, and technical support.

Register Here for the Louisiana Harvest of the Month (HOM) program..

Materials and Resources

Louisiana K-12 schools and after school programs can register for free at any point during the school year to receive access to all monthly materials. Additional printed materials such as posters and seasonality charts can be ordered by emailing louisianafarmtoschool@agcenter.lsu.edu or calling (225) 578-1037. Visit the link below to find Louisiana Harvest of the Month monthly materials, recipes, lessons, activities, and other resources!

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Materials Here

Current Harvest of the Month Schools