BOZEMAN — Individuals across Montana are invited to participate in Montana Crunch Time, a celebration of local food and National Farm to School Month, set for Wednesday, Oct. 19. 

Montana Crunch Time is a statewide event where participants crunch into locally and regionally grown apples. The event is designed to encourage healthy eating habits and support local food-based initiatives throughout the state, according to Aubree Roth, Farm to School coordinator at the Montana Team Nutrition program based at Montana State University. It is also intended to help people learn through healthy food and nutritional choices. All Montanans are encouraged to participate. 

This year, Colorado, Montana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are competing to see which state can get the most “crunches.” The state with the most crunches per capita wins the Crunch Off crown. Crunches must be registered online by Oct. 31 to count toward the total.  

“Montana Crunch Time is a great way to showcase Montana-grown foods,” said Elsie Arntzen, the state’s superintendent of public instruction. “Our Farm to School program connects Montana farmers and ranchers to student learning. Grab an apple or any crunchy Montana-made food and join me in this year’s Crunch Off.” 

The Montana Office of Public Instruction will host a virtual crunch at 2 p.m., but participants are welcome to crunch at any time.  

Montana Crunch Time started as a school-based event in 2013 and has since expanded to encourage all Montanans to crunch. In 2021, a total of 30,958 Montanans joined in. The event is hosted by the Montana Farm to School Leadership Team, Montana Team Nutrition Program at MSU, Montana Office of Public Instruction and several partners.    

To register a crunch, download crunch guides and resources, and for virtual crunch connection information visit montana.edu/mtfarmtoschool/mt-crunch-time.html.