BUFFALO, N.Y. — Farm to table — eating more local foods — is a concept that has been growing for years. But how do you get those foods into school cafeterias and get kids to eat them?

"The last, like five years, the program has really taken off in our area and across the state, actually across the country now as well," said Frontier Central School District food services coordinator Anne Rich.

Rich has brought the success of Farm to School from the city of Buffalo to the suburbs.

"It helps us to serve higher quality, fresh meals to our students ... more nutritious meals to our students," Rich added.

The focus of the program for her now is bringing together New York state agriculture, economy and education.

Helping her out in her district are Andrew Stobnicki and Eden Valley Growers.

"We kind of ... created it a long time ago as a way to be able to focus on the growing, because that's what they're really good at," said Stobnicki, their procurement coordinator.

Stobnicki is helping as a middleman between scores of farms and the customers — in this case, school districts.

"As we get more and more schools on, it helps have that commitment to the farmers," he said. "So they have consistency. There are so many variables in farming, unfortunately. But it helps to continue to have that consistency with someone who's going to be there year in and year out."

It's an added benefit that more partnerships grow the agro-economy, keeping tax dollars and the freshest options.

"For the district, knowing the kids are getting really great for local food and for the community bringing in the farmers and the food is right there," said Frontier CSD Farm to School coordinator Marlet Stansberry.

This program starts with what makes its way on the trays, and as it grows, there's the possibility for more full-circle educational opportunities getting kids out to the growers.

For now, there's a lot of pride in state-grown options, state-fed students and the network that that makes it all run.

"One of us succeeds, we all succeed," said Rich. "Then, in the end, it's all about the success of our students."