Center for Regional Food Systems

Farm to early care and education (ECE) is comprised of activities that align with three core elements:

1. increase access to nutrient-dense, locally produced foods
2. encourage gardening, and
3. educate about food, nutrition, and agriculture in ECE settings.

Farm to ECE can be utilized across multiple settings including childcare centers, family childcare homes, Head Start programs, and preschools within K–12 school districts. These types of lessons help children learn about the origins of food and nutrition, engage in hands-on gardening activities, and take part in a variety of nutrition education activities, widely increasing its appeal.

Documenting these activities can be immensely beneficial for accreditation, licensing, or for the providers themselves. This new resource was created to aid in the documentation process for providers in the state of Michigan, cross-walking the Michigan Early Learning Guidelines with examples, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Go NAPSACC (validated self-assessment tool available for providers), the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards (ELPAS).

Cross-referenced resources in this document:

• Early Childhood Standards from Birth to Kindergarten, Michigan Department of Education
• Local Foods in the Child and Adult Care Food Program with Questions and Answers, United States Department of Agriculture
• Best Practices from Go NAPSACC
• Interactive Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, United States Department of Health and Human Services
• Early Childhood Program Standards, National Association for the Education of Young Children

Contributors

• Meagan K. Shedd, PhD, author
• Sarah Eichberger, MPH, RDN, Michigan State University Extension Educator, editor
• Brooke Bianchini, RDN, Program Coordinator of National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, reviewer

Funding for this work comes from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) with financial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the State Physical Activity and Nutrition grant. Consulting was provided by MDHHS Public Health Consultant Janee Moore.