Delaware Farm Bureau Program Whets Kids’ Appetites for Specialty Crops

Delaware Farm Bureau's "Educating through Specialty Crop Crates" program educates elementary-aged students on the various specialty crops that are grown and produced in Delaware. Each crate is full of various hands-on activities, lesson plans and other specialty crop-related educational materials that can be utilized in the classroom.

Through the program, funded with a 2023 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant and launched that fall, Delaware Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, provided resources for teachers and their classrooms that promote specialty crops while educating students about the importance of agriculture and healthy eating. By introducing students to various specialty crops at a young age, they will be more willing to try new fruits and vegetables and develop healthier eating habits.

The unique resource delivery method not only captures students' attention but also creates meaningful, memorable connections between what they learn in the classroom and the local food systems around them.

"The Educating through Specialty Crop Crates program is essential to increasing the awareness of specialty crops, especially amongst our youngest consumers," DEFB Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul said. "Due to the lack of farmland around some of these students, they are unaware of where their food comes from and how it is grown. This program creates early exposure to Delaware agriculture and demonstrates how agriculture touches all of our lives."

New Horizon Award

Delaware Farm Bureau's Educating Through Specialty Crop Crates program earned the organization a 2026 New Horizon Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The award, which honors state Farm Bureaus with the most innovative new programs, is presented annually at the AFBF Convention.