The South Dakota Crunch Off is an annual statewide celebration of local foods and farm-to-school efforts. During the Crunch Off, September 14-October 31, we challenge every South Dakotan to eat or take a big “crunch” into a South Dakota-grown fruit, vegetable, nut, seed, popcorn, or meat that are either grown or raised locally.
Anyone can join – schools, families, offices, clubs, community groups, individuals, and more!
South Dakota is on a roll – let’s get even more “crunches” in 2026!
- 2022: 1702 crunches
- 2023: 2749 crunches
- 2024: 6562 crunches
- 2025: 7358 crunches
South Dakota also participates in a multi-state Crunch Off competition. States throughout the region (Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming) compete to achieve the most per capita “crunches” into local food! Help us win the Mountain Plains Crunch Off crown!
Who Should Participate
Schools and Early Care Sites
- Host a “crunch at lunch”
- Use local produce in a school meal
- Crunch during snack time to integrate it into classroom lessons
- Learning about apples this fall? Use local apples to taste test!
Families, Offices, Small Groups and Individuals
Celebrate local foods in your own way:
- Host a group crunch
- Share photos and fun facts
- Make recipes using your crunch food
Producers
Growers, gardeners, community gardens, and more make the Crunch Off possible! To support a crunch team:
- Sell or donate produce
- Partner with schools or childcare sites
- Host a crunch event on your farm/orchard or visit the local school/childcare site to talk with the children
How to Participate
Organize a Crunch Team
Create a team of any size. Examples of teams include:
- Classrooms, grades, schools, or entire school districts
- 4-H clubs, Scouts, daycares, youth groups
- Farmer’s Markets, clinics, churches, offices
- Sports teams, concession stands
- Health fairs, community events
- Families, community groups, individuals
Choose Your Local Food
- Fruit or vegetable
- Nuts or seeds
- Popcorn
- Beef or meat sticks
Local purchases are encouraged, and donations from producers are welcome.
Plan Your Crunch Event
Your event can be as simple as taking a bite or educational by adding learning activities. See the Crunch Event Activities section below for optional lesson ideas, worksheets and fun add-ons.
Promote Your Crunch
You can share your event with your team or community through:
- Social media
- School announcements
- Newsletters
- Local media outlets
Use hashtags #SoDakCrunch and #MountainPlainsCrunch. A printable photo sign is available for group pictures.
Register Your Event
This is a crucial step. Registration is required for your crunches to count toward South Dakota’s total. Please submit your crunch numbers by November 6.
Registration will open in September!
Frequently Asked Questions
As many as you need. Each team should represent a different group of participants.
You may combine or separate events, just make sure the total number of participants is recorded accurately.
Yes! Each team can record multiple events, but they have to be on different days. If you lead multiple teams, you may submit one entry per date for each team you lead.
Yes! Contact Jessica Meuleners to be connected with a local crunch team in need of produce.
