Nebraska Crunch Off
What is the Crunch Off?
The Mountain Plains Crunch Off is a multi-state competition to celebrate Farm to School Month every year in October. States throughout the region (CO, MT, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD) compete to achieve the most per capita “crunches” into local products – like apples, carrots, nuts, seeds, and more. Nebraskans have accepted the challenge by crunching to higher levels year after year and we were the reigning Crunch Off Champions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Students, teachers, farmers, parents, organizations, community members, and local food enthusiasts can register their team and crunch into local food products anytime in October! Together, we can take this opportunity to celebrate local food and Farm to School programs throughout Nebraska.
2025: A Record Year
A big THANK YOU to all the students, teachers, farmers, parents, and organizations who joined us in crunching into local products in October. A record setting total of 96,431 Nebraskans came together to crunch! The Crunch Off was a great opportunity to celebrate local food and Farm to School month throughout Nebraska.
Ord Public Schools celebrates National Farm to School Month with a
C R U N C H!
Crunch Off Resources
- Prepare for your Crunch Off event using our Crunch Calendar Planning Guide.
- Select your crunch-able item(s) with the help of our Crunch Eligible Items Guide.
- Challenge your creative side with the Nebraska Crunch Off Coloring Pages.
- Engage the littlest Nebraskans in the Crunch Off using our Early Care and Education Resource Guide.
- Keep the party going and celebrate the Crunch Off during out of school time using our After School Nebraska Crunch Off Resource Guide.
- Advertise your event with the Crunch Off Promotional Poster.
- Go one step further and customize your promotion using our Crunch Off Customizable Poster.
- Check out the resources available at National Farm to School Network to help you celebrate National Farm to School Month and Crunch Off this October.
Incorporate the Crunch Off with other Farm to School Programs
Nebraska Thursdays:
- Celebrate Nebraska Thursdays and add a local Crunch Off product to your school menu on a Thursday in the month of October!
- Register for Nebraska Thursdays and visit our recipe portal for a hummus recipe (which uses local dry beans!) that you can use as a dip for your Crunch Off item.
Harvest of the Month:
- Download the Harvest of the Month Taste Test Guide for tips on sampling your Crunch Off item prior to the big day.
- Crunch Off with Harvest of the Month! Try a local salad turnip or a crunchy cabbage coleslaw. Build momentum for your Crunch Off event by sending home a Harvest of the Month newsletter available on the Harvest of the Month webpage.
- See what’s in season in Nebraska, and crunch-able, with our handy Harvest of the Month Seasonality Poster.
Where to find LOCAL apples and other crunch-worthy produce
Find local food near you using the Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska Crunch Off Producer List. Explore the Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska Online Food Guide and reach out directly to anyone listed in the guide.
Nebraska Farmers Markets and Produce Vendor
A search tool for finding local farmers markets and produce vendors to provide fresh food for your school.
Utilize Nebraska MarketMaker to locate suppliers selling crunchable items, like apples, carrots, turnips, and broccoli. What local produce will you crunch into this year?
One of Nebraska’s local food hubs located in Lincoln!
An online, year-round farmers’ market and local food distribution service.
Check out additional ideas for finding local on the NDE Farm to School Resources page.
