Arizona Media Coverage

Can FoodCorps Get America to Eat Healthfully? by Bryan Walsh. Time Health. Published 08/23/2011.
The Hopi and Pima, like many other Native American tribes do suffer from dangerously high levels of obesity, higher than average Americans on a national level, the Hopi people call themselves the 'farmers of the desert." Native Americans who live on reservations often lack access to fresh, wholesome food, while at the same time they've lost connection to their own healthier traditional diets. FoodCorps is now assisting them to improve access to healthy food, FoodCorps a new national service organization that aims to fight obesity and diet related disease through promoting school gardens and farm-to-school programs. Read the entire article.

Farm to School by Morgan Sailor . Ahwatukee Foothills News. Published 07/29/2011.
Ashley Schimke, the Arizona Department of Education’s first farm to school specialist, is working to increase the amount of fresh, locally grown produce offered in Arizona schools. Read the entire article.

Farm to School Successful Model in Tucson . KOLD News 13. Published 06/10/2011.
Chefs move for Schools finds success in Arizona. Read the entire article.

What's for lunch: Salad bar popular by Cyndy Cole. Arizona Daily Sun. Published 12/19/2010.
It's lunchtime at Marshall Elementary, and the kids have a choice of chicken burgers, veggies and noodles, or turkey sandwiches -- followed by salad, beans, and then a salad bar. Read the entire article.

Back to school by Suzanne Menges. Eastern Arizona Courier. Published 08/08/2010.
The signs are everywhere: school supplies are on the shelves, backpacks are everywhere, crosswalks are being repainted, and parents seem just a bit relieved. The school year is about to begin. One thing the students and their parents probably aren’t thinking too much about is the school lunch program. It’s taken for granted that students will be able to purchase a nutritious lunch at school. The lunch program in America’s schools is changing, however, thanks to local farmers. Read the entire article.

Baboquivari High School students use native foods to win national award by Jenny Anchondo. KOLD News 13. Published 06/08/2010.
The Tohono O'odham people have the highest rate of diabetes among Native American tribes, according to the USDA. Diabetes impacts about half of Tohono O'odham adults, but only four to six percent of all Americans. However, when faced with the challenge of creating a healthy, tasty school lunch, it was Tohono O'odham students from Baboquivari High School that won the national "Cooking Up Change" contest by using native foods. The contest is in line with TOCA's overall goal to re-introduce native foods in a community hard-hit by diabetes. Read the entire article.

Growing local know-how. Muskogee Phoenix. Published 08/31/2008.
Starting a farm can be overwhelming, and even established farmers can benefit from learning a new trick or two of the trade. An upcoming workshop called "Growing for Local Markets" provides practical advice and hands-on demonstrations to help current, beginning and potential farmers operate more effectively and profitably. Read the entire article.