Ridgeview and Walterville join Oregon Crunch at Once

In Springfield Public Schools (SPS), nutrition services staff at Ridgeview Elementary and Walterville Elementary served delicious multi-colored carrots and apples to all students during lunch, as part of Oregon's Crunch at Once event, celebrated on Thursday, October 23.

Oregon's Crunch at Once is a statewide event where schools simultaneously bite into Oregon-grown fruits or vegetables during National Farm to School Month (October). This simple activity creates a shared experience across the state while celebrating local agriculture and healthy eating.

The Oregon Crunch at Once invites K-12 students, farmers, parents, food and nutrition services, and school partners across the state to participate in a synchronous bite into Oregon’s produce, creating a collective celebration of the state’s agricultural bounty and the importance of healthy school meals.

Nutrition Services Specialist, Tracie Harness and her team served carrots and led the countdowns to crunch at Ridgeview Elementary.

This year’s Crunch at SPS featured rainbow carrots from Upriver Organics, a family-run, certified organic farm in the McKenzie River Valley. Upriver is known for its sustainable growing practices and colorful, high-quality produce. 

The Oregon Crunch at Once, a cornerstone of National Farm to School Month, aims to educate students about the importance of local farm communities and encourage healthy eating habits. To date, Oregon’s Farm to School Program has invested more than $40 million to help nearly 600 farmers and agricultural businesses sell local food to more than 300 PreK to12 sites and provides funding to support education and activities in 800 school gardens across the state.

For many students, SPS Nutrition Services staff are the first point of contact with the district. SPS currently serves on average, 12,300-12,900 free breakfasts and 24,000-24,500 free lunches over the course of a week across 20 schools. We are proud to provide the fuel that helps young minds thrive!

Last year, more than 40,000 preK-12 students participated in the Oregon Crunch at Once across the state. For more information, please visit: oregonfarmtoschool.org/crunch

Pictured above: Kinders Ollen and Zander take some big bites at their carrots during the 2025 Crunch at Once event at Ridgeview Elementary.