This October, join schools, child care centers, and organizations across North Carolina in celebrating National Farm to School Month by crunching into a locally grown apple. The 2022 NC Crunch will take place on Wednesday, October 19th. Participants of all ages are invited to crunch with us!
Across North Carolina, kids and adults will be crunching an apple grown on a local farm in October. In addition to commemorating National Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, this annual event, co-sponsored by the NC Farm to Preschool Network and the Farm to School Coalition of NC, celebrates North Carolina agriculture, local farmers and farm workers, and nutrition.
The NC Crunch promotes healthy eating and supports farm to school and other local food purchasing initiatives throughout the state. It’s also a fun way to connect food and agriculture to all kinds of classroom curricula – from science to art. Don’t worry if you’re unable to participate on October 19th – you can host a NC Crunch event anytime during October’s National Farm to School Month festivities.
Ready to start planning your Crunch?
We’ve created a Crunch Guide with information on sourcing your produce, curriculum connections, social media and press release templates to help you share your Crunch with the local community, and more. This year’s Crunch Guide also includes tips for Crunching during almost post-COVID-19.
Click here to register for the 2022 Crunch!
You will receive an email with a link to download the 2022 Crunch Guide upon submission of the form.
PLEASE NOTE: The registration form is a Google Doc. If you cannot access it, please contact the Growing Minds team at (828) 236-1282 to sign up.
Print your own NC Crunch stickers
Download a PDF template for printable “I crunched!” stickers (use these labels: Avery Template Number 5293, 1 2/3″ round labels, 24/sheet).
Promote your NC Crunch event on social media
We’ve created new social media graphics that you can download and share to help promote your NC Crunch event. These graphics have been created to help with nutrition education and promotional outreach for the NC Crunch.
A photo frame is available for your social media news feed to let everyone know that you or your family, class or group crunched into North Carolina grown produce and you appreciate our North Carolina farm to school heroes. In addition, two general NC Crunch graphics as well as 14 graphics on seasonal produce grown in our state are available.
Please share on social media how you are celebrating the #NCCrunch and recognizing our #farmtoschool heroes. Tag the @F2SCoalitionNC and @NCFarmtoPreschool Network with your posts. We look forward to seeing your photos and activity posts. Click here to access all of these social media graphics.
Are you a farmer or part of an organization that is not in a school?
You can still crunch! Here are some ideas for how to get involved.
Whatever activity you do, be sure to snap a picture and post on social media tagged with #NCCrunch and #F2SMonth. Here’s a printable sign to use in pictures.
Ideas for farmers to participate in the NC Crunch:
- Host a Crunch at a farmers market you sell at during October.
- Visit a childcare center or K-12 classroom or lunchroom and provide a taste test.
- Host a field trip on your farm.
- Crunch on the farm with your family/employees.
- Have a NC Crunch photo booth at your farm for u-pick customers through October.
- Don’t forget to register your event! (No event is too small to register and you can skip the questions for schools if your event will not be held in a school.)
Ideas for community members to participate in the NC Crunch:
- Host a Crunch event at your office or business with your employees.
- Take a farm field trip to a u-pick apple farm with your employees.
- Have a NC Crunch photo booth at your office or business.
- Restaurants–feature a local apple recipe on your menu in October.
- Don’t forget to register your event! (No event is too small to register and you can skip the questions for schools if your event will not be held in a school.)
If you are in ASAP’s Appalachian Grown region, reach out to the Growing Minds team, growingminds@nullasapconnections.org, for “I tried local apples” stickers, apple-themed children’s books, apple recipe cards, and help brainstorming other NC Crunch activities.