Parlier Unified receives CDFA grant to support farm-to-fork initiatives

PARLIER, Calif. (KFSN) -- A multi-million dollar assistance is backing schoolhouse districts crossed the authorities to enactment a farm-to-fork initiative.

Parlier Unified is 1 of astir 200 recipients awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Clemente Molina stays engaged moving connected the Parlier High School farm.

But helium hasn't ever enjoyed agriculture.

"At first, I didn't truly similar it due to the fact that I ever worked successful the fields and I ne'er truly liked the fields. It was ever hot, I ever got dirty," Molina said.

Now, he's recovered a caller passionateness successful nursery scenery and competition.

Last year, helium and his squad placed 3rd successful the state.

His involvement successful ag has been supported done the enactment he's done connected the farm.

He helped trench and instal irrigation for the effect trees.

"We really person a batch much effect trees than we utilized to have," Molina said.

Ag teacher Jason Clawson says the irrigation supplies, trees and a caller tractor were purchased done a $150,000 assistance Parlier Unified was awarded past year.

It's done the California Department of Food and Ag "Farm to School Incubator Grant Program".

"Prior to this, we didn't person a functioning tractor with the instrumentality that we could usage to bash farming effect trees and production," Clawson said.

The territory applied for the assistance again this twelvemonth and was awarded different $200,000.

The wealth volition beryllium utilized to alteration the Parlier High School Farm into a objection farm, showing students they tin "grow" connected their own.

"We thatch them that we tin instrumentality the aspects location with them, whether it's increasing effect trees oregon moving with lettuces oregon tomatoes and things similar that that they tin bash successful their backyard," Clawson said.

The wealth volition besides enactment plot beds for the simple schoolhouse and a greenhouse for the mediate school.

Parlier Middle School Ag teacher Samantha Wagner says it volition get students retired of the schoolroom to use skills they've learned.

"Our kids are getting the hands-on acquisition that they don't get successful a subject class, a mathematics class, oregon an English people but we're incorporating each those skills into our classes," Wagner said.

The effect the students turn volition yet beryllium served successful the cafeteria.

The wealth volition besides enactment a learning room wherever students volition usage the nutrient they grew to cook.

Bilingual genitor cooking workshops volition purpose to alteration accepted meals into healthier versions.

Representatives with the CDFA accidental these types of projects and goals are precisely what they privation to support.

"They person this vision, they person these goals acceptable successful spot and this backing portion possibly tiny tin assistance them physique up that dream," CDFA Regional Network pb 'Farm to School Program' Jane Alvarado-Banister said.

The territory plans to use for the assistance yearly to proceed to marque improvements and supply experiences for the students.

One time they anticipation to merchantability the nutrient they turn successful a farmer's marketplace for the community.

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