Reimagining Food Education Through the Children’s Farmers Market.
This spring, Francia Yera, our Child Nutrition Coordinator, represented Adelante Mujeres at the National Child Nutrition Conference in Las Vegas, where educators, advocates, policymakers, and organizations from across the country gathered to reimagine the future of child nutrition.
During this event, Francia shared the story behind Adelante Mujeres’ Children’s Farmers Market, a hands-on initiative that is helping children build confidence, connection, and healthier relationships with food through culturally relevant experiences.
Francia was invited to present after previously leading workshops at Oregon’s Farm to School Conference in Corvallis, where attendees described the session as one of the conference highlights. Some participants traveled hours specifically to attend the workshop after hearing about the impact of the Children’s Farmers Market model.
At the center of Francia’s presentation was a simple but transformative idea: children deserve the opportunity to explore food through curiosity, autonomy, and all their senses. Rather than pressuring children to immediately accept unfamiliar foods, the program encourages exploration, repetition, and practical learning experiences that build trust and confidence over time.
Children Experience Food with Their Whole Being
During the workshop, Francia invited attendees to reflect on the experience of eating an orange for the first time. Participants described the rough texture of the peel, the citrus scent left on their hands, and the juice dripping through their fingers.
The exercise became a powerful reminder that children do not experience food as a simple yes or no decision. For them, food is sensory, emotional, cultural, and deeply personal.
“This is what children are experiencing when they are introduced to new foods,” Francia shared during the workshop. “They are eating not only with their mouths, but with all their senses.”
A key part of the presentation also focused on shifting adults' mindset. Francia encouraged parents and educators to move away from control-based approaches and instead create supportive environments where children can safely explore food and make choices for themselves.
The Children’s Farmers Market goes beyond nutrition education. Through interactions between children, families, and vendors, kids practice communication skills, mathematical thinking, confidence-building, and community engagement while also seeing their cultures and identities reflected through food.
Bringing Community-Based Solutions to a National Conversation
The conference also created opportunities for Francia to connect with individuals involved in child nutrition policy and food systems work at the national level, including representatives connected to the USDA. Conversations centered around increasing access to local foods and reducing dependence on highly processed products in schools and community spaces.
At the same time, Francia emphasized the importance of sustainable financial support for organizations doing this work directly within their communities. Supporting local food systems and healthier futures must also include meaningful investment in the programs, educators, and families helping make that vision possible.
Looking Ahead to the Children’s Farmers Market
As Adelante Mujeres prepares for the fourth year of the Children’s Farmers Market, the vision continues to grow beyond a single event. Thanks to a Child Nutrition Education Grant from the Oregon Department of Education, the program will continue expanding opportunities for preschool children across Washington County.
Francia shared that one of her biggest hopes is to see more community awareness and involvement around the Children’s Farmers Market and its long-term impact.
“We want healthy children,” she shared. “Not only for the students at Adelante Mujeres, but for our entire community.”