California Resources & Publications
Evaluation Tools & Reports
Fresh From the Farm and Into the Classroomby Haase, Margaret, Andrea Azuma, Robert Gottlieb, and Mark Vallianatos The Center for Food & Justice January 2004
Utilizing a model called Community Supported Agriculture that ties consumers directly to a local or regional farm, this LAUSD program, entitled the “Fresh From the Farm Pilot Project,” has been able to establish a direct connection between the classroom and a Southern California organic farm. The result is a unique, hands-on learning experience for the students, as well as increased income for local, organic agriculture.
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Case Studies & Feasibility Analysis
The Crunch Lunch Manualby Renata Brillinger, Jeri Ohmart, and Gail Feenstra University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program March 2003
A case study of the Davis Joint Unified School District Farmers Market Salad Bar Pilot Program and a Fiscal Analysis Model
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The San Francisco Farm-to-School Report: Results from the 2003 Feasibility Study
by Rimkus, Rimkus, Paula Jones, and Fernando Ona San Francisco Food Systems January 2004
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How to Get Started
Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining Your School Gardenby California School Garden Network
A comprehensive instructional resource for teachers, parents and schools interested in garden-based learning. This book was developed by the California School Garden Network (CGSN), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and sustain California gardens to enhance academic achievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship, community and social development.
Orange County menu of Options
by Vanessa Zajfen May 2008
The following are new farm to school programming opportunities for Orange County. The farm to school programs suggested below have been specifically created for Orange County schools based on the local farm resources.
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Other Resources
Resources for Farm to School Championsby Center for Food & Justice September 2007
This Farm to School resource primer is a great one-pager linking you to materials and organizations that can help you implement and sustain your farm to school program.
Buying & Selling Local Foods
Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Facby Vanessa Zajfen Report March 2008
The Center for Food & Justice has released the findings from a year-long planning grant titled Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Facilitate and Scale Up the Distribution of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
The California Endowment funded CFJ for a year long planning grant to explore the most effective strategies and opportunities to scale up the distribution of locally grown fruits and vegetables in Southern California. Our work sought to identify solutions to barriers that have prevented more institutions from buying local and supporting local agriculture. Based on the project findings CFJ has developed multiple strategies to overcome identified barriers that will be undertaken by CFJ over the coming years. For a summary of the 5 distribution models that CFJ will be pursuing, please look for it under this section of publications.
Please contact Vanessa Zajfen with any questions, comments or concerns.
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Food Access & Distribution Solutions: 5 Strategies for Southern California
by Vanessa Zajfen March 2008
Based on the report Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Facilitate and Scale Up the Distribution of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, The Center for Food & Justice has developed 5 strategies which attempt to address some fundamental and basic issues with the distribution of locally grown foods. CFJ will be working throughout the next few years to assist project partners and other organizations to implement these strategies in the Southern California region.
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Curricular Resources
The Growing Classroomby Roberta Jaffe and Gary Appel Life Lab Science Program and National Gardening Association January 2007
Garden and nutrition activity guide
Science Exploration Units
by Life Lab Science Program Life Lab Science Program January 2007
Activity guides for garden-based exploration, 1st-4th grades