Advocates Across the City Share Support for the FoodPrints Program

This winter, members of the FRESHFARM FoodPrints community are writing to the DC Council in support of the FoodPrints program as the District develops its fiscal year 2027 budget. Parents, teachers, school staff, and students are sharing firsthand stories of how hands-on food and garden education positively impacts their students and children.

Across the city, advocates describe how FoodPrints builds essential culinary and life skills, sparks excitement around trying new foods, and brings academics to life through meaningful experiences in kitchen classrooms and school gardens.

Thank you to the more than 80 stakeholders across the city who wrote letters to city leaders. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators shared the many reasons why they value FoodPrints and urged city leaders to continue supporting food education through FoodPrints in the District budget.

Parents value the cooking skills, life skills, and enthusiasm for new foods their children gain in FoodPrints

“FoodPrints teaches lessons that no standardized test can capture. When a child puts their hands in the soil, plants a seed, watches it grow, harvests it, and then prepares and eats that food with classmates, something powerful happens. They learn patience, responsibility, cooperation, curiosity, and pride. They learn that food does not magically appear on shelves. They learn that their actions matter—to their bodies, to their community, and to the environment.”
– Parent, Ludlow Taylor Elementary School

“My fourth grader loves FoodPrints! He gets excited about learning how to make food on his own, and will share his favorite recipes with us at home. As his mom, it gives me such joy to know how proud of himself he is to be able to do something ‘big’ on his own. He’s also much more willing to try new foods when he’s doing it with his friends, which is a big plus to help keep him healthy.”
– Parent, Amidon Bowen

“Have you ever seen a group of eight-year-olds confidently wield cooking tools, or harvest vegetables from a garden, or gather quietly to watch a bumblebee pollinate a squash blossom? It’s truly a magical thing to witness!”
– Parent, Watkins Elementary School

“My daughter has significantly benefited from this program. She can be a picky eater, but in this supportive, low-pressure environment, cooking alongside her friends, she has been much more willing to try new foods. More than once at pick-up, I’ve been surprised to hear what she tried and liked during FoodPrints (kale! Bean soup!). Being involved in the preparation of these foods gives her a sense of ownership and curiosity.”
– Parent, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School

Teachers and staff see academics and social-emotional learning come to life in FoodPrints classrooms

“As a teacher, I have seen how valuable FoodPrints is for my students. Students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings often thrive during FoodPrints lessons, demonstrating leadership, curiosity, and perseverance. The program builds confidence, increases student engagement, and helps students make meaningful connections between what they learn in the classroom and the real world.”
– Teacher, Amidon Bowen Elementary School

“FoodPrints…provides hands-on experiences that empower our students in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. Our children are given the opportunity to cook, to safely cut their own vegetables, and to prepare meals with their own hands. In these moments, they gain confidence, independence, and pride. They are not just being fed, they are learning how to nourish themselves and others. That kind of knowledge is life-changing.”
– Teacher, Garfield Elementary School

“Through hands-on activities, our students regularly apply math skills such as measuring, fractions, and data collection while cooking. Reading and literacy skills are reinforced as students read recipes…In addition, Ms. Wilson [FoodPrints teacher] weaves history and social studies into her lessons by exploring the cultural origins of foods, traditional recipes from different communities, and the historical significance of agriculture and food systems.”
– Teacher, Kimball Elementary School

“FoodPrints is an important program for our school because understanding food and nutrition is a basic building block of life. Learning in a school garden helps students become better stewards of the earth and more cooperative with their peers. FoodPrints helps…bridge the gaps between science, math, and life. It also serves as an emotional and stress reliever for our students. FoodPrints has been valuable for my students because it gives them a sense of independence and agency and urges open-mindedness.”
– Teacher, Simon Elementary School

Students feel excited and empowered by new cooking skills and food knowledge

“I love FoodPrints because we get new recipes for home, and I love the recipes!”
– Student, Marie Reed Elementary School

“FoodPrints matters to me because in FoodPrints, I get to try foods that I wouldn’t get to otherwise. Not only that, I also get to make the foods, improving my cooking skills while still trying something new…FoodPrints is fun and exciting, and in my opinion, the best way to learn about food and how to make it!”
– Student, Truesdell Elementary School

“The FoodPrints teachers are fun and caring. We have a thing we say: “please don’t yuck my yum.” My most favorite thing is the food we make. We make Tuscan Kale Salad and Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili. We also have explore time in this program. This program helps calm me down. Shout out to Ms. Rose and Mr. Jerome, they are the best FoodPrints teachers ever!”
– Student, Simon Elementary School