▁late ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁it ▁was ▁decided ▁that ▁the ▁National ▁Farm ▁to ▁School ▁Network ▁had ▁out g rown ▁its ▁original ▁home ▁and ▁it ▁became ▁its ▁own ▁organization ▁under ▁the ▁fis cal ▁spons or ship ▁of ▁the ▁T ides ▁Center . ▁The ▁National ▁Farm ▁to ▁School ▁Network ▁is ▁as ▁an ▁information , ▁advoc acy ▁and ▁networking ▁hub ▁for ▁communities ▁working ▁to ▁bring ▁local ▁food ▁s our cing , ▁school ▁gard ens ▁and ▁food ▁and ▁agricult ure ▁education ▁into ▁schools ▁and ▁early ▁care ▁and ▁education ▁settings . ▁N FS N ▁includes ▁all ▁ 5 0 ▁states , ▁Washington ▁D . C ., ▁Native ▁Commun ities , ▁and ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Territ ories ; ▁all ▁are ▁represented ▁by ▁Core ▁and ▁Support ing ▁partners . ▁▁ ▁The ▁Network ’ s ▁six ▁main ▁priority ▁areas ▁are : ▁▁ ▁Policy ▁development ▁ ▁Training ▁and ▁technical ▁assistance ▁ ▁Information ▁development ▁and ▁dis sem ination ▁ ▁Network ing ▁ ▁Media ▁and ▁market ing ▁ ▁Research ▁and ▁evaluation ▁ ▁Ben ef its ▁of ▁Farm ▁to ▁School ▁ ▁The ▁Farm ▁to ▁School ▁approach ▁helps ▁children ▁understand ▁where ▁their ▁food ▁comes ▁from ▁and ▁how ▁their ▁food ▁choices ▁impact ▁their ▁bodies , ▁the ▁environment ▁and ▁their ▁communities ▁at ▁large . ▁ ▁Pot ential ▁benefits ▁of ▁the ▁program ▁for ▁communities , ▁schools , ▁far mers ▁and ▁children ▁include : ▁ ▁N ut r ition ▁education ▁for ▁students ▁ ▁Part icip ation ▁in ▁school ▁me al ▁program ▁ ▁In cre ased ▁consumption ▁of ▁f ruits ▁and ▁veget ables ▁ ▁Im pro ved