Georgia Media Coverage

DeKalb County Farm-to-School Program Scores a Win-Locally grown produce to be served in school cafet by Lisa Kuebler. North Druid Hills- Briarcliff Patch. Published 08/25/2011.
The DeKalb County Farm to School Movement scored a big win recently when the DeKalb County School Nutrition Program announced that this year, all schools will be featuring at least one Georgia-grown produce item each month. Read the entire article.

A nod to local farmers for National Garden Week by Bradon Wilson. Cherokee Tribune. Published 06/12/2011.
Thanks to the efforts of many gardeners and community leaders, local children are getting to the roots of what they consume, which is very basic knowledge for the elderly population, but an otherworldly phenomenon for much of my generation. Read more: Cherokee Tribune - Bradon Wilson A nod to local farmers for National Garden Week Read the entire article.

Cherokee Tribune - School cafeteria staff get a taste of locally grown food by Kyle Dominy. Cherokee Tribune. Published 06/03/2011.
Members of the Cherokee County School District cafeteria staff got a firsthand look at how food goes from the field to their kitchen this week.Yesterday, about 300 school system employees embarked on a tour visiting four Cherokee County farms that help supply fresh produce to feed students. Read the entire article.

Taste Testing Kale by Diane Loupe. Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch. Published 05/24/2011.
In a system-wide effort, parent and student volunteers grew and harvested kale, cafeteria staff cooked it with olive oil and garlic, and every student was offered a taste. Surprise! Many liked it. Read the entire article.

Fulton County Students Eat Better, Local by Christine Foster. Rosewell Patch. Published 04/07/2011.
Some local students recently learned that not all fries are bad; in fact, baked sweet potato fries may actually have health benefits, when consumed in moderation, according to a new education initiative by Fulton County Schools. The system’s Farm to School and Georgia Grown programs kicked off during February at fifteen area schools. Read the entire article.

Georgia Organics Hosts First DeKalb County "Farm to School" Meeting by Lisa Kuebler. Tucker Patch. Published 03/25/2011.
Georgia Organics hosted the first DeKalb Farm to School information and input meeting Wednesday night. It was well-attended, and among those in the audience were parents from various local schools, teachers, members of the DeKalb County nutrition staff, the county Health Department, a representative from the Lieutenant Governor's office, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, farmers, CDC representatives, and representatives from 4H and FFA (Future Farmers of America). Read the entire article.

Healthier foods highlight school nutrition efforts by Erik McNeal. Neighbor Newspapers. Published 03/02/2011.
Douglas County School System originated a “Farm to School” program this school year to introduce fruit and vegetables grown in Georgia to students every month. This program helps reduce the carbon footprint by cutting down the travel time for produce to travel and it promotes local farmers, Reich said Read the entire article.

Earth to Table program donates organic produce to schools by Mary Landers. Savannah Now. Published 03/02/2011.
By delivering CSA shares to parents when they pick their children up from school instead of offering home delivery, the Earth to Table Farm Box Program saved enough money that they could donate produce to the participating school. Read the entire article.

Michelle Obama visits Atlanta, touts fight against childhood obesity by Kristina Torres and Gracie Bonds Staples . Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Published 02/09/2011.
Touting what she called a fundamental shift in how America lives and eats, first lady Michelle Obama made Georgia her prime stop Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of her "Let's Move" campaign aimed at improving children's health. Read the entire article.

The Cook’s Warehouse Hosts Farm-to-School Workshop . The Gormet Retailer. Published 02/07/2011.
Mary Moore, founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse, hosted the fourth half-day Farm-to-School cooking workshop in January for cafeteria workers from the City Schools of Decatur. This class was held in the Decatur High School cafeteria kitchen with about 30 cooks from the eight separate kitchens that feed the city schools’ children. Read the entire article.

Farms, schools partner in food program by Ashley Fuller. Cherokee Tribune. Published 02/03/2011.
Leaders in Cherokee County's agriculture industry want to grow a national program that helps local farms and schools work together. Georgia Organics, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting sustainable foods and local farms in the state, has teamed with the Cherokee County Farm Bureau to expand the Farm to School program in the county. Read the entire article.

The Cook’s Warehouse Hosts Second Farm-to-School Cooking Class for School’s Cafeteria Workers . Gourmet Retailer. Published 08/02/2010.
Mary Moore, founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school with three locations in Atlanta, hosted the second Farm-to-School “cooking workshop” for cafeteria workers from the City Schools of Decatur, Georgia, on July 29. The half-day program is designed to teach easy, efficient and inspired cooking to school cafeteria workers. Read the entire article.

 Farm to School: CSD. EDtv. Published 06/16/2010.
Read the entire article.

GSU professor finds link between obesity and federal school nutrition programs by Renee DeGross Valdes. EurekAlert. Published 05/11/2010.
With obesity becoming an epidemic among school-aged children in this country, a Georgia State University professor has found a link between overweight children and federal school nutrition programs. Research reveals that children who eat lunch as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have an increased likelihood of becoming overweight, according to research co-authored by Rusty Tchernis, associate professor with Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. The findings also show that the School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a "valuable tool in the current battle against childhood obesity," according to the research. Read the entire article.

Decatur Schools Freshen Up by Kyle Dominy. Mid Dekalb. Published 11/25/2009.
The City Schools of Decatur are looking to provide healthier meals by cooking meals with fresh produce. The program plan calls for planting gardens at each Decatur school for educational purposes. It also requires a group of Decatur parents to help the school system find farms and vendors to supply fresh produce to the cafeterias. Read the entire article.

What "Farm-To-School" Will Mean For Your Kids. Decatur Metro. Published 11/20/2009.
At it's most recent meeting, the Decatur School Board unanimously approved the extensive Farm-to-School action plan. Read the entire article.

Decatur's Farm-to-School Program Takes Off by N/A. Decatur Metro. Published 11/06/2009.
Michael Wall at Georgia Organics posted this video of CSD's "nutrition staff" taking a cooking class on working with more local and organic products at Cook's Warehouse in Decatur. [h/t:Decaturfm via Twitter] This class is just one of many steps in the Farm to School program's aggressive strategic plan to improve school nutrition in Decatur's schools by incorporating more local, natural foods in school lunches. The full Strategic Plan and its many, many steps can be viewed as part of the School Board's agenda for next week, when they will vote on its approval. Read the entire article.

Farm to School Workshop with the Decatur school nutrition team by Georgia Organics- Michael Wall. . Published 11/05/2009.
Today the City Schools of Decatur's school nutrition staff met at the Cooks Warehouse in Decatur to learn how Farm to School activities can get kids to eat healthier and support the local economy. Plus, they were shown nut-and-bolts knife and cooking skills that they can use in school cafeteria kitchens. They also prepared a delicious meal that highlighted fresh, local and seasonal foods, including chicken vegetable soup, sweet potato wild rice, cranberry apple sauce, and a seasonal salad made with cauliflower, broccoli, and goat cheese chevre. Read the entire article.

Nature Goes to School by James Hataway & Jordan Sarver. WNEG. Published 11/05/2009.
Nearly 175 parents and teachers from all over Georgia came to Chase Street Elementary School last weekend for the 13th Annual Outdoor Classroom Symposium. Read the entire article.

Chef Ann Cooper launches school lunch revolution by AJC Opinion. Access Atlanta. Published 09/15/2009.
"Everyone knows not to eat the hot dogs, Mom. They bounce. And the fish makes everyone sick." Wait just a tic. Are we living in the United States of America? Shouldn't a healthy, good-tasting school lunch be the right of each and every child in public schools across this country? Doesn't it peeve you just a little that your child is likely eating food products instead of actual food in their school cafeterias? Read the entire article.

School systems find creative ways to teach children to eat their vegetables by Associated Press. The Gainesville Sun. Published 08/26/2009.
French fries are a staple and ketchup a vegetable as far as American kids are concerned. But at least some schools are finding children will eat healthier meals when offered them and take nutrition to heart if they are taught about the positive impacts on their bodies. Read the entire article.

Some Positive Directions in Public Health? by Heather Gray. Counter Punch. Published 05/24/2009.
Following Pollan's presentation I was then informed that the Senate Agriculture Committee would be holding a hearing on the "Farm-to-School Initiatives in the Child Nutrition Reauthorization" program. I attended. With Senate Agriculture Committee chair Tom Harkin and committee member Georgia's Senator Saxby Chambliss asking questions, the packed audience heard from USDA representatives, physicians and a farmer about ways to improve nutrition in the school system and provide healthy nutritious food to our youth. Read the entire article.

Chambliss, Harkin partake in polite food fight by Ken Edelstein. Atlanta Unsheltered. Published 05/15/2009.
The point of the Agriculture Committee hearing was hard to argue with: "Benefits of Farm-to-School Projects, Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for School Children." Real Mom and apple-pie stuff. Or at least, Mom and apple. Read the entire article.

Community News. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 05/14/2009.
Advocates for feeding local-grown food to schoolchildren can watch proceedings of the U.S. Senate's Agricultural Committee on Friday, when officials will hear testimony in DeKalb County about the benefits of "farm-to-school" projects. Read the entire article.

Senators Chambliss & Harkin To Hold "Farm to School" Hearing at CDC. Decatur Metro. Published 05/12/2009.
In April, the school board officially approved a Farm to School initiative for the CSD school system. The program strives to put fresh and local foods " from city and school gardens and local farms " on the lunch plates of CSD students. Read the entire article.

A shorter food chain has many benefits by Meredith Ford Goldman. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 03/26/2009.
After attending an upbeat, informative session on starting a farm-to-school program and a brilliant lecture by writer Dan Imnoff on the state of the U.S. food system, I realized we still have a war effort when it comes to the foods we eat. Read the entire article.

Growing knowledge: School gardens take root in Atlanta by Besha Rodell. Creative Loafing. Published 03/18/2009.
In Ms. Wiggins' fifth-grade class at Cascade Elementary in Atlanta's West End, it's coming up on state testing time. The kids are weary and antsy, having spent the past few weeks enduring lessons on facts and figures to prepare for the tests that will determine, among other things, the school's level of funding. But at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, it's time for a different kind of lesson. On this particular Tuesday, using veggies they've grown themselves in the school's courtyard garden, the kids will be making soup. Read the entire article.

School Garden Raising: A school looks beyond funding to realize their dream by Suzanne Welander. Natural Awakenings. Published 03/01/2009.
Read how one school with no financial resources created an edible garden with the help of their community. Read the entire article.

Fresh concept goes to school by Laura Diamond. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 10/30/2008.
The school changed its food ordering practices this year to use more farm-fresh and seasonal items from the region. At the same time, the school is reducing its reliance on frozen fruits and vegetables as well as produce from far-flung areas. The change is part of the school's long-standing sustainability efforts and reflects a national trend to buy local. Read the entire article.

Public input: School lunches not good eating by Elizabeth Lee. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 08/21/2008.
Pop-Tarts and doughnuts for breakfast for 2-year-olds. Rolls, chicken nuggets and French fries for school lunches. Brownies given the same nutritional value as a slice of whole-wheat bread. Federal nutrition programs are failing children and contributing to an epidemic of obesity and chronic illnesses in America, according to speakers who testified Wednesday at a U.S. Department of Agriculture listening session. Read the entire article.

Aging farmer nurtures younger generation with lease, lessons by Elizabeth Lee. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 05/25/2008.
As farm groups and agriculture schools seek ways to encourage more young people to work the land, property is changing hands. Atlanta's suburbs are filled with subdivisions that once were pastures or crop land. Read the entire article.

On the menu: Town hall meeting focuses on school food by Diane R. Stepp. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 04/01/2008.
Wondering about what goes into your kids stomach at school? A group of east Cobb parents have organized a town hall meeting for 7 p.m. on April 17 at Sope Creek Elementary that will bring state and local education decision makers, legislators physicians, nutritionists, parents and students together to talk about healthier choices. Read the entire article.

Schools plant gardens to sprout healthy eaters by Elizabeth Lee. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Published 10/25/2007.
School gardens are enjoying a revival energized by the local food movement and concern over childhood obesity. Growing fruits and vegetables, the thinking goes, will teach science, math, even literature - and, garden organizers hope, a lifetime of healthier eating habits. The idea is promising enough to have caught the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is studying school gardens as a way to promote a more nutritious diet and to boost produce consumption. Read the entire article.

MEET Ashley Rouse: mom, farm-to-school advocate and healthy food farmer by Melonie Tharp . The FEED Atlanta. Published 00/01/0000.
If you have visited any of Atlanta’s organic farms, it is likely that Ashley Rouse has been there too, Ashley really gets around the local organic food. Ashley is part of the APS Parents’ Farm to School Coalition is a group of parents who believe it is important to promote the benefits of local, fresh food for our children’s eating and learning, and to advocate for APS policies and leadership that will support a sustainable, district-wide farm to school program. There are also several other moms who that are partnered with Georgia Organics, Sodexo Food Management Company has been extremely cooperative, Farmer D Organics, Southeastern Horticultural Society, Will Harris- farmer/owner/operator of White Oak Farms and Atlanta Falcon Youth Foundation. Read the entire article.