Despite being surrounded by fertile farmland, many families in Sacramento County face significant food insecurity, with the Sacramento Food Bank reporting that more than one in four residents struggle to access nutritious food. The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), through its Early Head Start Home Visiting Program, is taking a bold step toward improving family health and school readiness by launching a Farm to Family Project that provides monthly boxes of fresh, locally grown produce to families enrolled in Early Head Start (EHS) programs, along with healthy cooking and nutrition experiences.
SCOE has partnered with two local agencies to launch the new project. Sacramento’s Goodful farm-fresh food delivery service is helping to distribute the produce boxes. The Alchemist Community Development Corporation is hosting community meals where families create healthy lunches and learn about recipes they can make with the food they receive. Children are encouraged to help prepare the meals. A $200,000 farm-to-school grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) funds the project.
A recent article in The Sacramento Observer—Sacramento Entrepreneur Provides Produce Boxes To Families In Need—highlights how Goodful is supporting the SCOE project.
Food Deliveries Include Children’s Books
As part of SCOE’s Sacramento County READS Literacy Initiative to empower all learners to reach their age- and grade-appropriate reading and literacy milestones, the Farm to Family Project has integrated early literacy development into its nutrition education efforts. Families receive a children’s book each month, centered on themes of farming, healthy eating, or sustainability.
Along with the book, families get a comprehensive activity guide, designed to spark curiosity and learning at home. It features playful, age-appropriate activities—things like cooking projects, discussion prompts, and ideas for sensory play activities. Families are encouraged to read the story together and engage in the activities, creating meaningful connections between food, learning, and family time.
To make the experience even more engaging, links are provided to allow children to watch the authors themselves read their stories, ensuring families can enjoy the stories in multiple formats.