Chairman Jim Perdue helped his hometown Wicomico County (Maryland) Public Schools celebrate “National Farm to School” month by visiting fifth-grade students who shared their online research on the importance of raising animals without relying on antibiotics. He then joined Wicomico County Schools Superintendent Donna Hanlin to serve lunch – including Perdue Harvestland no-antibiotics-ever chicken drumsticks, before eating with students and answering their questions.
Perdue Farms is the first major protein company to join the National Farm to School Network. The company’s no-antibiotics-ever products and elevated animal care practices align with the National Farm to School Network’s emphasis on sustainable practices.
Wednesday’s event was part of Wicomico County School’s celebration of National Farm to School Month, a time to support local economies and connect children and communities with the source of their food.
“It’s important for students to learn about where their food comes from, how it’s raised and the people who are responsible for getting that food to them, and to recognize the economic importance of agriculture to our community,” said Perdue. Perdue Farms works with more than 5,250 Maryland farmers who raise its chickens or sell the company their grains.
For Wicomico County schools, partnering with Perdue was an opportunity to make no-antibiotics-ever chicken available to all students, and to put some of its food purchasing dollars back into the community.
Perdue is working with schools and state departments of agriculture to promote no-antibiotics-ever menu items grown or produced in Perdue’s operations in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Those items include Perdue Harvestland no-antibiotics-ever drumsticks raised in Kentucky and cooked in Virginia, and Perdue Harvestland Snacketizers whole-grain chicken nuggets produced in North Carolina from chickens raised in North Carolina and South Carolina.
