Colorado Proud School Meal Day on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. This is a day to celebrate Colorado agriculture and to educate schoolchildren about healthy eating.

In order to encourage eating habits that will promote a lifetime of optimal health, it is essential to teach children about the importance of eating foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products. Proper nutrition is critical if our educational programs and our students are going to continue to excel.

Colorado farmers and ranchers produce food items that provide the nutrients children and adults need to thrive. Agribusinesses contribute $47 billion to the state economy annually and provide more than 195,000 jobs. With more than 38,000 farms and ranches encompassing 31 million acres, it is easy to understand the value this industry adds to Colorado.