Oklahoma Media Coverage

Students latch onto pilot lunch program by P Miller. The Edmund Sun. Published 09/04/2009.
Dave Fouts, a chef with Simply Smart Food and an Edmond Sun columnist, made the proposal to develop and implement a cost-effective, nutritious and tasty school breakfast and lunch program that will be healthy, contribute to academic performance and that eventually can be implemented district-wide. Read the entire article.

Mid-Del dietitian to give color to students' nutrition by Chris Schutz. NewsOK. Published 08/13/2009.
The district is applying to join the federal Farm to School program, which supplies extra fresh produce to schools where at least half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, Kirkes said. Read the entire article.

District, chef create nutrition pilot program by Patty Miller. The Edmund Sun. Published 07/08/2009.
Edmond Board of Education members voted 5-0 Monday night to begin the program, along with high praise from some board members. Dave Fouts, with Simply Smart Food, made the proposal to develop and implement a cost-effective, nutritious and tasty school breakfast and lunch program that will be healthy, contribute to academic performance and that eventually can be implemented district-wide. Read the entire article.

Local producers will foster OSU freshness by Monique Headley. Stillwater Newspress. Published 07/07/2009.
Terry Baker, director of University Dining Services, is confident that a collaboration of collegiate creativity and local agribusiness producers will offer a delicious benefit to all at Oklahoma State University. Integral to the successful germination and efficiency of the program is Chris Kirby, director of the Farm To School Program for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said Baker. Read the entire article.

Oklahoma is Sixth-Fattest State by Kim Archer. American Chronicle. Published 07/01/2009.
The national "F is for Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009" report ranked the overweight and obesity rate of 10- to 17-year-old Oklahoma children 33rd in the nation, tied with Washington state. Read the entire article.

Farm to School Food Focus Workshop Held Today in OKC by Jack Carson. Oklahoma Agriculture Blog. Published 06/23/2009.
The goal of today's program was to let state school and college food service personnel meet local farmers and resource people to discuss better ways to introduce and increase the amount of locally grown foods into our school lunch programs. About 125 people registered for the event with close to equal numbers of school nutrition folks and farmers. Read the entire article.

Farm-to-School a Hit with Students by Kendra Blevins. Jenks Gazette. Published 06/20/2009.
This year Jenks Public Schools are seeing the fruits of the Farm-to-School Program. Pat Meadows, director of child nutrition, says it was the right time to start the program. Read the entire article.

Oklahoma Sustainability Network Conference by Lisa Sharp. Green Together. Published 03/14/2009.
The Oklahoma Sustainability Network is a group of people working to make Oklahoma a more sustainable place to live. They have chapters all over Oklahoma and are still growing. Read the entire article.

Gardening: Neighbors can help grow healthy living by Molly Day. Muskogee Phoenix. Published 12/31/2008.
A neighborhood can put its resources together to grow a bountiful garden of salad vegetables, flavorful melons, zucchini and winter squash to serve family and friends. Read the entire article.

OK-Farm to School programs promote proper nutrition in schools by Candice Adson. Oklahoma Insider. Published 12/01/2008.
A program that intends to provide students with healthy foods while increasing their knowledge of nutrition and agriculture is being developed in many states, including Oklahoma. Farm to School programs allow a school to purchase fresh produce from local farmers and often incorporate nutrition lessons in the classrooms. The program is supported by both farmers looking for new markets and school advocates of health and nutrition. Read the entire article.

Farm To School Program launches new website by Chris Kirby. High Plains Journal. Published 11/13/2008.
The state agriculture department has created an Oklahoma Farm to School website to give schools, agricultural producers and others an inside look at its program designed to put Oklahoma foods in our school lunch programs. Located at www.okfarmtoschool.com, the website offers Oklahomans a chance to become involved with the program and learn about efforts to help schools connect with local farmers and provide children with fresh, locally grown foods. Read the entire article.

OU's use of local foods rises by Sharon Dowell. News OK. Published 11/11/2008.
Local products make up 15 percent of all products used in the University of Oklahoma's food service operations, and an official said that percentage is growing. "We're moving more and more every day, going for a certain percentage," said Dot Flowers, general manager for marketing and nutritional analysis for housing and food services at OU. "We're hoping to reach 30 percent of what we purchase being local." Read the entire article.

Oklahoma Education Briefs. NewsOK. Published 11/10/2008.
The state Department of Agriculture has created an Oklahoma Farm to School Web site to give schools, agricultural producers and others an inside look at its program designed to put Oklahoma foods in our school lunch programs. The Web site, www.okfarmtoschool.com, offers Oklahomans a chance to become involved and learn about efforts to help schools connect with local farmers and provide the state's children with fresh, locally grown foods. Read the entire article.

Farm-to-School a Hit with Students by Kendra Blevins. GTR News. Published 10/01/2008.
This year Jenks Public Schools are seeing the fruits of the Farm-to-School Program. Farm-to-school encourages school districts to purchase locally and regionally produced foods in order to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies. Read the entire article.

Edmond schools use salad bars, Farm to School program to urge nutrition by Patty Miller. The Edmund Sun. Published 09/27/2008.
With September named National Fruits and Veggies - More Matters Month, parents are urged to let their children have a more active role in deciding what they eat as parents help them choose more nutritious items for their meals. Edmond schools are doing their part as they incorporate the Farm to School program, said Amy Herrold, child nutrition assistant supervisor. Read the entire article.

State urges residents: "Get fit, eat smart" by Patty Miller. The Edmond Sun. Published 09/24/2008.
Anita Poole, co-chair of the Oklahoma Food Policy Council, said Oklahoma is leading the nation in the Farm to School program. "Getting local foods into the school system and teaching the students to eat healthy while they are young will carry through to adulthood," Poole said. "Buy fresh, buy local." Read the entire article.

Nutrition program adjusts for budget by Caitlin Getchell. Neighbor Newspapers. Published 09/10/2008.
With the rising costs of food, the Sand Springs school district began this year with some concern for child nutrition services' budget. Superintendent Lloyd Snow said he is no longer worried, however, thanks to some creative alterations the department made. Sherry Pearson, director of child nutrition, said that the department is participating in the Farm to School program this year, as well as altering some of the recipes to make them healthier and to use "commodity items" from the Department of Human Services. Read the entire article.

Putting food on the table by Julie Yates. Pryor Daily Times. Published 08/16/2008.
Malynda Willis, Locust Grove Schools nutrition manager, said Locust Grove has raised their breakfast price to 75 cents. The noon meals for elementary, middle and high schools remain at the same prices as before. Willis said she uses a farm-to-school program and buys fresh foods from local people. She said they use the foods according to the quality and quantity of what they receive. Read the entire article.

State food program reaps rewards by Susan Simpson. NewsOK. Published 07/30/2008.
Students with an eye for the environment and a taste for garden-fresh produce are in for a treat this fall at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. USAO has signed up for the state's Farm to School program, joining the University of Oklahoma and about 50 school districts that buy fresh fruits and vegetables from state growers. Read the entire article.

Program dishes up healthier students by Bryan Painter. The Oklahoman. Published 04/20/2008.
Maybe they've seen the fields and the gardens. Undoubtedly, they've seen the food on a table. But have Oklahoma students made a connection? And really, why should they? Oklahoma's Farm to School Initiative is answering that question at more and more schools throughout the state. Read the entire article.

Cash Prizes offered in high school essay contest. Muskogee Phoenix. Published 02/11/2008.
Oklahoma is making great strides in expanding local food sources, with such programs as Farm to School, farmer's markets, Tulsa's "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign, and the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. Proponents say a more local food supply can relieve hunger, stimulate economies, improve nutrition, reduce obesity and revitalize communities. Read the entire article.

Kerr Center sponsors essay contest. The Oklahoman. Published 02/07/2008.
The Kerr Center is inviting state high school juniors and seniors to submit essays on "The Value of Locally Grown Foods" for its 2008 essay contest. Grand prize is $750; first runner up, $500; and honorable mention will receive $250. Entry deadline is March 28, and winners will be announced in early May. Contest information has been sent to high schools statewide and is posted online at www.kerrcenter.com. Information about farm-to-school programs and the essay contest are available online at www.kerrcenter.com or by calling the Kerr Center at (918) 647-9123. Read the entire article.

Students on Board with Healthy Eating by Patty Miller. The Edmond Sun. Published 09/18/2007.
School lunches have turned the corner from fat-filled, calorie-laden meals to nutritious choices. Read the entire article.

Farm to School director wants program to grow by John Dobberstein. Tulsa World. Published 03/21/2007.

Read the entire article.

The Hidden Hunger: Farm to School by Ginnie Graham. Tulsa World. Published 12/19/2006.
Tulsa Public School is among the first districts to participate in the Farm-to-School program, which links local farmers to school districts. Read the entire article.

New program offers state farmers new opportunity. Southwest Farm Press. Published 11/28/2006.
Oklahoma’s public school students will soon be enjoying more locally grown fruits and vegetables in their school meals, because of new legislation creating the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program. Read the entire article.

Fatty foods get shelved in schools by Beth Gollob and Wendy Moses. NewsOK.com. Published 11/27/2006.
Vici Grimes never thought she'd see kids get excited about fresh fruits and vegetables. As part of a pilot project begun last year in Stillwater Public Schools, the child nutrition coordinator started buying fresh produce from Whitmore Farms in Coyle. Now, along with pizza and fries, Stillwater students have daily access to fresh strawberries, asparagus, squash and similar foods. Read the entire article.

Farm-to-School puts improves nutrition by Caroline Booth Lara. Southwest Farm Press. Published 10/30/2006.
Oklahoma watermelon grower Bob Ramming wants to see Oklahoma school kids eating more fresh, healthful produce, and he’s part of a program that’s making it happen. Ramming’s family-run operation, Ramming Produce Inc., was the first in the state to be a part of the pilot program that has evolved into the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program. Read the entire article.

Crops go from "Farm to School" by James S. Tyree. Pryor Daily Times. Published 06/20/2006.
Watermelons planted the seeds for building a closer connection between Oklahoma school districts and local growers.It was quite a feat, considering the Hinton-area watermelons were seedless. Read the entire article.

Program links farms, schools by John Dobberstein. Tulsa World. Published 06/08/2006.
"One afternoon in 1995, Oakland teacher David Roach was talking with one of his high school students when he had a life-changing realization. 'She was feeding her child some candy,' recalls Roach, a slightly built 40-year-old with waist-long dreadlocks. 'I said, 'Hey, why are you feeding your baby candy?’ She said, ‘Mr. Roach, where can I go to get him an apple or an orange?’ That’s when it hit me. We gotta create food for this community.” Read the entire article.

Senate approves Farm-to-School program by KTEN, TX.. KTEN, TX.. Published 05/24/2006.
The state Senate has given its approval to a bill allowing Oklahoma farmers to sell produce to schools and to teach children healthy eating habits. The so-called Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program has already passed the House and now goes to the governor. Read the entire article.

Several Area School Districts Participating In A "Farm To School" Project by KOTV, The News on 6. The News on 6. Published 08/31/2004.
Four Oklahoma school districts started a new mouth-watering project Tuesday. And its connecting students back to their Oklahoma roots or in this case, vine. Read the entire article.

Farm-to-School program benefits students and farmers. The Norman Transcript. Published 01/01/2003.
According to research, students choose more servings of fruits and vegetables when they are given the choice of high quality, farm-fresh produce, according to Chris Kirby, the Oklahoma farm-to-school coordinator. And when children are well-nourished, they learn better, he said. Read the entire article.