Central ND News

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is inviting groups across the state to take part in the Mountain Plains Crunch Off during Farm to School Month in October. The competition involves North Dakota and six other states, with each state aiming to record the highest number of participants biting into a piece of local produce or minimally processed local food, measured per capita.

Last year, more than 80,000 people from North Dakota participated alongside thousands from the wider Mountain Plains region.

“We are encouraging students, teachers, farmers, parents, community members and local food enthusiasts to participate,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The Crunch Off is a great way to celebrate Farm to School Month and supports local agriculture. North Dakota schools are sourcing more local products every year, from apples and cucumbers to beef and bread, helping students taste and learn about the bounty grown close to home.”

Those who want to host a Crunch event can register online at https://forms.office.com/g/kjdXDZBNh3 so their participation will be included in the state’s total count. Events can be held any time through October 31, 2025. A toolkit for organizing a Crunch Off event is available at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/crunch.

The Crunch Off is part of Farm to School Month activities that take place every October nationwide. These events highlight food education initiatives, school gardens, and school meals featuring locally sourced ingredients. Farm to School Month was established to raise awareness about the national Farm to School program, which encourages students’ consumption of locally produced foods and supports education on how food is grown and why eating local matters.

For more information about the Farm to School program in North Dakota, contact Jenna Nieters at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov or Amanda Olson at 701-328-0817 or amolson@nd.gov.