Nebraska Farm to Early Care and Education Toolkit

Getting Started

Farm to Preschool Fact Sheet: Farm to Preschool – Local Food and Learning in Early Child Care and Education Settings
Getting Started With Farm to Preschool: Getting Started with Farm to Preschool
Getting Started with Farm to Early Childhood Education: https://www.farmtoschool.org/our-work/early-care-and-education
Farm to Early Childhood Programs; A Step-By-Step Guide: https://foodsystems.msu.edu/uploads/files/Farm_to_Early_Childhood_Guide_2015_Feb.pdf
Grant Funding Available: https://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school-grant-program

Where to Buy Local

Find Farmer’s Markets/Produce Vendors near you (Nebraska Farmer’s Markets/Produce Vendor Search): https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-ag-farmers-market/
Nebraska Food Cooperative: https://www.nebraskafood.org/
Where Can I buy Drinks and Food that is Nebraskan (Nebraska Access): https://nebraskaccess.ne.gov/nebraskafoods.asp
Food and Meat Directory (Nebraska Department of Agriculture): https://www.nda.nebraska.gov/publications/promotion/food_meat_directory.html
Local Procurement for Family Child Care Providers: https://www.farmtoschool.org/resources-main/farm-to-early-care-and-education-local-food-purchasing-resources
Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Buying-Local-Guide_FINAL_August-2015.pdf
Nebraska MarketMaker: https://foodsystems.unl.edu/nebraska-market-maker
UNL Online Food Guide: https://buylocalnebraska.org/online-food-guide
Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska: Connecting Nebraskans to Local Farms and Food: https://buylocalnebraska.org/

What's In Season

Nebraska Produce Availability: Resource Seasonality Crop Extension Storage Guide
Find a Farmers Market or Produce Vendor: https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-ag-farmers-market/

Seasonal Produce Guide (USDA): https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-through-seasons/seasonal-produce

Cucumbers

Sliced cucumber

Cucumber Fun Facts

Originated in East Asia and have been harvested for over 3,000 years.
Belong to the Cucurbitaceae family which also includes melons and squash.
Grow up to 2 feet long.
The term “Cool as a cucumber” is scientifically based. The inside of a cucumber can be as much as 20 degrees cooler than the external temperature.
The United States consumes 1.6 million tons of cucumbers annually.
Cucumbers are 95% water making them great for hydration and contain only 13 calories per cup.
The gestation period from planting to harvest takes 8 to 12 weeks depending on the variety.
Cucumbers can be grown in hydroponic gardens without soil.
One cucumber contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and Folic Acid. As well as Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc

Resources:

Love My Salad: Cucumber Fun Facts. https://www.lovemysalad.com/blog/cucumber-fun-facts

Mr. Plant Geek: 20 totally Cool Facts About Cucumbers! https://mrplantgeek.com/2017/06/03/20-cool-facts-about-the-cucumber/

Cucumbers Purchasing and Storage

There are generally two basic types of cucumbers: slicing varieties and pickling varieties. Choose cucumbers that are slender, firm, dense, and dark green in color. Avoid cucumbers that are soft, shriveled, or wrinkled. Over ripe cucumbers are generally larger in the middle, have large seeds, and the skins are lighter in color; they will not yield a good flavor and may have a bitter taste.

Store unwashed cucumbers in the refrigerator crisper or in a plastic bag for up to one week. Wash under cold water before using. Sliced cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Visit the Nebraska Harvest of the Month page for free downloadable educational materials including posters, newsletters, coloring sheets, recipes and more.

Resources:

USDA SNAP-Ed Connection: Cucumbers https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/resources/nutrition-education-materials/seasonal-produce-guide/cucumbers

Bulletin #4252: Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Cucumbers. https://recipes.net/articles/how-to-cut-cucumber-spears/

Have a Plant: Cucumber. https://fruitsandveggies.org/fruits-and-veggies/cucumber/

Recipes

Dill Honey-Mustard Chicken Salad Pita Recipe | SELF

Creamy Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie

Cucumber Cottage Cheese Toast

How to Cut Cucumber Spears

Corn Cucumber Salad

Fresh Veggie Wraps

Strawberry Cucumber Smoothie

Egg Salad Cucumber Boat

Grilled Chile-lime Fish Tacos with Cucumber Mango Salsa

Mango Cucumber Salsa

Mango Cucumber Fruit Kabobs

Grow It, Try It, Like It! Nutrition Educational Tool Kit (Team Nutrition Resource Library):https://pueblo.gpo.gov/TN/TNPubs.php?PubID=15038 Or download available: https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/grow-it-homes
Nebraska Harvest of the Month – Recipes, Taste Test Guide, posters, coloring sheets and more (click on the link and scroll down to download materials).