National Media Coverage
Farm to School in Connecticut Read the entire article.
Heifer grants keep it green by Bob Audette. The Reformer. Published 05/06/2008.
Since its inception in 2001, the Heifer Educational Fund has awarded more than $125,000 to area schools for projects such as farm-to-school food initiatives, the creation of school gardens and greenhouses, soil conservation and forestry work. Read the entire article.
Costs hard to swallow by Ryan McCarthy. Appeal Democrat. Published 05/06/2008.
Food prices, increasing more than 4 percent in the Unites States last year, have hit schools here. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the food cost climb is the largest since 1990 and that a similar increase is expected this year. Read the entire article.
Farm To School: Ecotrust Keeps It Local by Lizbeth M. Brown, Esq.. Eco Times. Published 05/05/2008.
Michelle Markesteyn, Ph.D. is a major force at Food & Farms, as the Farm To School and School Garden Program Coordinator. Farm To School programs enable schools to provide students with healthy, locally-sourced meals, incorporate nutrition-based curriculum, and provide experiential learning through farm visits, gardening, and recycling. Read the entire article.
Grant to promote local produce by John Arendt. Summerland Review. Published 05/01/2008.
A local organization would like to see Summerland-grown produce served at the high school’s salad bar. The Summerland Food Action Coalition is applying for a $20,000 grant for its proposed Farm to School Salad Bar Program. Read the entire article.
Be Fresh: Get a refresher on what sustainable agriculture really is by Brandon Grace. Independent Mail. Published 04/30/2008.
The sustainable agriculture initiatives in this community seek to foster programs and systems aimed at helping our top-notch producers get their wares to the customers in this community. The programs can be as complex as “Grow with Me!” South Carolina’s first farm to school program we are launching in August, or as simple as extending the Anderson County Farmer’s Market season. Read the entire article.
Teaming local food with area students by Natalie Ragus. The Lompoc Record. Published 04/30/2008.
Small farmers and school districts along the Central Coast may soon team up in a partnership designed to help bring local produce directly from the family farm into school cafeterias. While logistics such as pricing and distribution have traditionally made “Farm to School” programs difficult to get off the ground, an innovative cooperative of local farmers and ranchers may help mitigate some of these issues. Read the entire article.
Produce law just a start, educators say by Susan Gordon. The News Tribune. Published 04/27/2008.
Public schools would be allowed to pay more for Washington produce as part of a new law promoted as a way to improve child nutrition while supporting Evergreen State farmers. The $1.5 million measure provides $570,000 in school nutrition grants beginning next fall. Read the entire article.
Struggling U.S. farm bill ‘not that simple’ by Alice Bagley. Whitman College Pioneer. Published 04/24/2008.
Title X of the bill even provides funding for purchasing from community garden projects and other locally based initiatives. This is a huge step forward towards “farm-to-school” programs, which have been advocated on the grassroots level in many communities, including Walla Walla. Read the entire article.
Cow visits Bozeman school by Beth Saboe. Montana's News Station. Published 04/24/2008.
Milk is something that most kids drink on a regular basis, but these days many youngsters may not realize where that glass of milk comes from. But one Bozeman school is working to educate students on the origin of their food, and on Wednesday students at Hawthorne Elementary school got a firsthand look at dairy cows and learned how to milk them. Read the entire article.
'Farm to School Conference promotes buying school food localy by Melissa Mecija. KSBY 6 Action News. Published 04/24/2008.
Agriculture leaders promote a program that aims to improve nutrition in schools, and help the local economy. Organizers held the first "Farm to School Conference" in San Luis Obispo Thursday afternoon. The program encourages healthy eating for students by encouraging schools to buy from local farmers and ranchers. Read the entire article.
Schools struggle to dine locally by Kristen Wyatt. The Washington Times. Published 04/23/2008.
A bill awaiting the governor's signature aims to change that. It's part of a national Farm to School movement that is headed to Maryland to encourage more local produce on cafeteria trays. The twin missions of boosting local farmers while trimming fuel costs for shipping food long distances received unanimous approval from Maryland legislators. Read the entire article.
Home-grown school meals by Editorial Board. The Baltimore Sun. Published 04/22/2008.
With justified concern about childhood obesity and the economic plight of some of Maryland's 12,000 farms, it's a shame that more local produce hasn't gotten to local schools. But a new program for the next school year rightly aims to help by adding more Maryland farm products to school meals. Read the entire article.
Gonzales Proposes Plan to Bring Fresher Foods into Local Schools by Evan. On Truth and Exploration. Published 04/22/2008.
State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) today introduced House Bill 5967, a bill that would make it easier for school districts to purchase food from local farmers for school lunch programs, bringing more fresh fruits and vegetables into our cafeterias and boosting the local economy. Gonzales' plan would streamline the bidding process for school food administrators by increasing schools' small purchase threshold (SPT) for food procurement to $100,000, up from $19,650. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-School movement comes to Md. by Kristen Wyatt. The York Dispatch. Published 04/22/2008.
Maryland's bill would put educators in touch with state Department of Agriculture marketing officials to figure out how to put products like Hochmuth's berries in schools. Officials in other states have said schools and farms alike are enthusiastic about the idea of local food in cafeterias -- they just need a go-between. Read the entire article.
Maryland joins effort to put local food in school cafeterias by Kristen Wyatt. Associated Press. Published 04/21/2008.
The strawberries just turning red on one Eastern Shore field here could end up on plates almost anywhere — except on cafeteria trays just down the road. A bill awaiting the governor's signature aims to change that. It's part of a national Farm-To-School movement that's headed to Maryland to encourage more local produce on cafeteria trays. Read the entire article.
Maryland's Governor Cites Ag Accomplishments. American Agriculturalist. Published 04/21/2008.
HB 696 and SB 158 establish the Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program in the Department of Agriculture to promote state agriculture and farm products to children through school meal and classroom programs. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-School Success Stirring State Action by Diane Conners. Great Lakes Bulletin News Service. Published 04/21/2008.
In separate steps that are aimed at bolstering the state’s burgeoning “farm to school” movement, a Michigan legislator and the state agricultural commission are each trying to make it easier for schools to serve more fresh, locally grown foods in their student cafeterias. Read the entire article.
Farmers can't sell to state's schools by Associated Press. The Baltimore Sun. Published 04/21/2008.
The strawberries just turning red on an Eastern Shore field here could end up on plates almost anywhere - just not on cafeteria trays at a middle school down the road. Read the entire article.
Thinking Outside the Lunchbox for Healthy School Food by California Endowment Videos. . Published 04/21/2008.
About 29 million children eat school lunches every day. The five foods those kids are most likely to see on their plates are pizza, chocolate chip cookies, corn, French fries or chicken nuggets, according to the American School Food Service Association. School food is a major part of many children's diets, and right now it's not doing their health many favors. A panel discussion (with Rodney Taylor, director of nutrition services at the Riverside Unified School District; Matt Sharp, director of the Los Angeles office of California Food Policy Advocates; Elizabeth Medrano, parent and community organizer for the Healthy School Food Coalition; and moderator Moira Berry, program manager of the Farm to Institution project at the Center for Food and Justice) examined innovative ways to transform the school food system. 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.
Md. joins Oklahoma in movement to put local food in schools by Associated Press. KTen. Published 04/20/2008.
A bill in Maryland would allow that state to join Oklahoma and others in establishing a Farm-To-School program. The goal of such programs is to encourage the placement of more local produce on cafeteria trays. The program has twin missions of boosting local farmers while trimming fuel costs for shipping food long distances. Read the entire article.
Parents push for organic school lunches by Erin Jordan. Des Moines Register. Published 04/18/2008.
Nearly 300 Iowa City parents have signed a petition to get more organic, locally grown food into their youngsters' school lunches. The petition asks the board to implement a wellness policy requiring the district's schools to use fresh, locally grown and organic ingredients "to the extent possible." Read the entire article.
Better meals for students by Cathe Olson. Lee Central Coast Newspapers. Published 04/18/2008.
Some schools in the United States are implementing Farm-to-School Programs to improve the quality of school meals and the effectiveness of nutrition education. These programs not only offer healthy, local foods to students, they provide hands-on educational experiences to connect children with the source of their food. Local farmers benefit from direct sales of their products, which helps the community as well. Read the entire article.
Earth Day offers a world of good by Christa Buchanan. C & G News. Published 04/16/2008.
To commemorate Earth Day, April 22, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and its Earth Works urban garden ministry are holding a dinner event featuring fresh, seasonal food and presentations on the importance of local foods and maintaining a connection to the environment. Read the entire article.
Farm to School by Keagan Harsha. WCAX News. Published 04/16/2008.
These kids are learning the ins and outs of agriculture thanks to a $12,000 grant from the agriculture agency. It's all part of a national farm-to-school program that brings farmers and their products into the classroom. Read the entire article.
Junior Iron Chef by Melissa Pasanen. Burlington Free Press. Published 04/15/2008.
On Saturday, the Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Expo filled in for kitchen stadium and the not-so-secret challenge ingredient was a previously provided list of seasonally available Vermont ingredients, including dairy and eggs, maple syrup and honey, apples, root vegetables, winter squash, sprouts, and some grains. The road to victory was to impress the panel of judges (which included this reporter) by using at least five of these ingredients to make tasty and nutritious dishes that might be recreated affordably and served successfully in a school cafeteria. Read the entire article.
Local produce is good for kids and economy by Kim Pasciuto. San Luis Obispo County. Published 04/15/2008.
Children get almost two-thirds of their daily nutrition during school. By teaching better eating habits and providing fresh, local, healthy food at school, Farm to School programs lead to healthier lives for children. Read the entire article.
Students reinvent their lunch at Jr. Iron Chef by Matt Ryan. Burlington Free Press. Published 04/14/2008.
Students hungering for better school lunches have taken matters into their own hands. Twenty-three middle school and 12 high school teams, each with five students, prepared potential school lunches at Vermont's first Jr. Iron Chefs, held at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction on Saturday. Judges graded the dishes on taste, use of Vermont products and ability to be replicated for mass consumption. The students' recipes will be featured in a cookbook and could soon be served at their schools. Read the entire article.
Schools' fresh foods initiative. The Post and Courier. Published 04/14/2008.
Twenty-five schools statewide will have the opportunity to participate in the fresh food program, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Awards will be made competitively, based on the willingness of school officials to work with local farmers to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables. Read the entire article.
Jr Iron Chef. Stuck in Vermont. Published 04/12/2008.
Mmm, something smells good. Middle and high school students from all over the state of Vermont compete in Jr Iron Chef which aims to celebrate local food, showcase VT seasonal produce and promote healthy local-food dishes in schools. Read the entire article.
Tools for Change – One Letter Leads to Legislation by Beth Collins. Lunch Lessons. Published 04/11/2008.
What a few choice words can do to stimulate policy that translates into real change through a local non-profit's e-newsletter after the local paper wouldn't publish it! Read the entire article.
Farm to School teaches kids to eat local by Mary Barter. The Durango Herald. Published 04/09/2008.
Student Nutrition Services Director Krista Garand recently purchased 650 pounds of ground beef from Fox Fire Farms as a result of the district's involvement in the local Farm to School Program. Since 2004, local farmers and ranchers have been meeting with district health and nutrition staff to put more local farm-fresh foods on students' breakfast and lunch plates and to teach good eating habits and attempt to reduce obesity rates among schoolchildren. Read the entire article.
Fresh Food Program Promotes Healthy Eating Habits Among Children. Illinois Ag Connection. Published 04/09/2008.
Read the entire article.
Farm to School Food Program. Channel 9 WSYR. Published 04/04/2008.
School districts are trying to save money, boost the economy, and avoid food recalls by doing one thing: buying local. They're participating in the national Farm to School program. In 1997, only six school districts participated. Now, there are nearly 2,000 programs in 39 states. Read the entire article.
Fresh Food Program Promotes Healthy Eating Habits Among Children by Stacy Kish. USDA: CSREES. Published 04/03/2008.
Gary Cuneen founded the advocacy group Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) in 2001, located in Oak Park, Ill., to find local solutions to global environmental problems. The group offers a comprehensive "farm-to-school" program called Fresh from the Farm. Read the entire article.
Agriculture grant to help promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. South Carolina Headlines. Published 04/02/2008.
Students in several South Carolina elementary public schools will be munching on fresh carrots or peaches in their classrooms and hallways next school year. A $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of School Food Services and Nutrition with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to work with local farmers to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables program. The grant funds will provide fruit baskets inside classrooms, kiosks in the hallways and other innovative approaches to give students the opportunity to grab fresh fruit or vegetable snacks throughout the school day. The initiative will operate in 25 schools. Read the entire article.
Farm-To-School Conference A Big Success by Kay Liss. Lincoln County News. Published 04/02/2008.
A fairly heavy snowfall did not stop registrants for the Maine Farm to School conference from attending the all-day program hosted by Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools (F.A.R.M.S.) at the Chewonki Center in Wiscasset March 28. Read the entire article.
South School Children Hear Stories of Maple Sugaring. Village Soup. Published 04/01/2008.
Staff from Maine Gold were invited by the second grade teaching team of the South School in Rockland to read stories of Maine agriculture. The focus of last week's stories was Maine's fifth season, maple sugaring. 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.
Program for schools serves locally grown veggies by Jennifer Justus. The Tennessean. Published 03/31/2008.
A national farm-to-school effort is putting produce from local farmers on some Tennessee students' cafeteria trays. With childhood obesity on the rise, naysayers have been known to place blame on the kids, insisting they prefer cupcakes over carrots. But proponents of a nonprofit National Farm to School program believe the key to healthier eating in cafeterias is education — and access. Read the entire article.
Oregon's school-lunch crunch by Maya Blackmun. The Oregonian. Published 03/29/2008.
In the geography of a public school lunch, lessons can be learned of faraway places. Teachers at Archer Glen Elementary School could serve them up daily if students traced their school lunches to their origins. Read the entire article.
Vt. students compete for top chef status. Burlington Free Press. Published 03/28/2008.
Thirty five teams of Middle and High School students from across the state compete for the title of Vermont’s first Jr. Iron Chefs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 12 at the Champlain Valley Exposition. The teams of 3-5 students each have 90 minutes to create 1-2 delicious dishes using seasonal, local foods, which can be easily prepared for school food service menus.Celebrity judges then sample each dish, judging them on taste, best/greatest use of local ingredients, creativity, and feasibility of using the recipes as part of school food menus. Read the entire article.
Farm to School Lunch Table by Annie Bell Muzaurieta. The Daily Green. Published 03/28/2008.
The National Farm to School Program, a non-profit that aims to connect farmers with nearby school cafeterias, has emerged to address the growing effort to get kids to eat fresh produce. The program provides schools with produce, meats, and dairy products from area farmers who have it fresh, according to the article. In 1997, only six local programs existed, but now there are nearly 2,000 programs in 39 states. Read the entire article.
Fresh from farm: Change state rules to help school menus. Battle Creek Enquirer. Published 03/28/2008.
The Michigan Land Use Institute says schools that have adopted its farm-to-school program have seen increases in meal participation. A new scratch-cooking effort utilizing many local farm products at Glen Lake Schools has boosted lunch participation by 50 percent in one year, according to the institute, and the number of kids eating breakfast at Frankfort-Elberta Schools has nearly doubled with the school-to-farm effort. Offering more fresh, local produce in school meals is healthier for students while also emphasizing the connection with food grown in their own communities. Read the entire article.
A harvest of patience by Kathy Hanson. The DesMoines Register. Published 03/27/2008.
The Berry Patch Farm and Storybook Orchard have been featured in Iowa State University Extension's Farm to School project. Sponsored by ISU's Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management Program at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the project aimed to increase school foodservice directors', parents' and students' awareness of available locally grown foods and their benefits. Read the entire article.
School food’s nearly home grown by Tad Sooter. Bainbridge Island Review. Published 03/26/2008.
A bill passed in the state Legislature’s recently adjourned session and expected to be signed by the governor, is designed to clear a path for farmers and school districts to get local produce into the lunchroom. The bill allows districts to favor Washington-grown products when awarding contracts. It also establishes a “farm to school program” and a grant program for purchasing Washington produce with $1.4 million allocated for kick starting pilot projects. Read the entire article.
Cafeteria offers a taste of nutrition by Geoff Moore. Lincoln Journal. Published 03/26/2008.
If you were caught up in the festivities and family gatherings associated with the Easter weekend, you might have missed the fact that March is National Nutrition Month — a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association. Read the entire article.
From farm field to school cafeterias by Robin Horrigan. Parenting Project. Published 03/26/2008.
Farm to School connects schools with local farmers to provide fresh and local food. Students get healthy lunches, learn the value and benefit of fresh foods, the local farmers stay in business, which helps the local economy and the environment gets some relief in the reduced packaging and shipping. Read the entire article.
Gross School Cafeteria Food? Go Organic! by Whole Earth Generation. You Tube. Published 03/26/2008.
Mike Botticello meets with kids from Hawthorne Elementary, where the school cafeteria food is provided by local organic farmers. The program is provided by 'Farm to School' a organization committed to making sure kids eat healthy, organically grown meals. Mike visits the local farms to see where all this great food comes from. Read the entire article.
Food program brings together schools, farmers by G. Jeffrey MacDonald. USA Today. Published 03/24/2008.
The National Farm to School Program, a non-profit effort to connect farmers with nearby school cafeterias, is going strong. In 1997, only six local programs existed, but now nearly 2,000 programs operate in 39 states. That means about 9% (11,000) of the nation's 124,000 public and private K-12 schools incorporate their neighbors' bounty into their menus. Read the entire article.
Teachers find their lesson in kids' food by Mel Huff. Times Argus. Published 03/21/2008.
Since 2000, FEED (Vermont Food Education Every Day) has been developing solutions to hunger by connecting the "classroom, community and cafeteria." The farm-to-school program was developed by Food Works, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and Shelburne Farms. Read the entire article.
Emily Jackson convinces tough critics to eat healthy and locally. New Life Journal. Published 03/19/2008.
Moms and dads know it can be quite difficult to get children excited about eating even an average vegetable, not to mention the weird looking ones, like heirloom varieties. But, Emily Jackson is up for the challenge and gets area children engaged with fresh, local food daily as program director for Growing Minds (GM), a farm to school initiative though Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). Read the entire article.
N.W. Michigan Growers, Educators Pack Farm-to-School Conference by Patty Cantrell. Great Lakes Bulletin News Service. Published 03/19/2008.
More than 300 people attended a historic conference in Traverse City, Michigan last week aimed at helping school administrators, food service workers, teachers, and students prepare and serve fresher, healthier food at schools and camps. Read the entire article.
A healthy option of locally grown by Editorial Board. The Seattle Times. Published 03/16/2008.
The "Local Farms — Healthy Kids Act" promotes all Washington-grown food — fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy. The legislation facilitates a farm-to-school program by eliminating bureaucratic impediments to buying local products, including lowest-cost bidding. Read the entire article.
From farm to foodbank by Mel Huff. The Times Argus. Published 03/16/2008.
Gleaning project brings fresh veggies to low-income tables through Salvation Farms, program of the Vermont Foodbank. Read the entire article.
State Law Slows Farm-to-School Progress by Beth Collins. Great Lakes Bulletin News Service. Published 03/16/2008.
Here we were, 330 of the region’s professionals in school education, nutrition, and health, working to nudge fresh, wholesome local food into the center of the plate in our schools’ dining rooms. But what did we find, in the course of our conversations, is perhaps the greatest obstacle to that important goal? Our own state government. Read the entire article.
School, immigrant groups receive funds. The Forum. Published 03/15/2008.
The White Earth project will use the funds to strengthen student knowledge of American Indian food systems on the Indian reservation. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-schools legislation? It's a win for everyone by Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins and Bill Lee. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 03/14/2008.
Local schools will soon be able to buy more locally grown meat and produce for their lunch programs, thanks to a measure that finished its legislative journey this week and now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it. Read the entire article.
Bill links local farmers, schools by Andy Campbell. The Bellingham Herald. Published 03/13/2008.
A bill passed by state legislators in Olympia appropriates $1.5 million to better connect schools and other state-run institutions with local farms. The bill, which passed both houses with just a single vote against it, requests about $1 million of the total for the Farm to School and low-income snack programs. Other parts of the funding go toward a farm to food bank program and other nutritional programs. Read the entire article.
Mystery meat for our kids? by Rebecca Clarren. High Country News. Published 03/13/2008.
The Farm to School Movement has been around for over a decade now and according to the Farm to School network, 38 states now host such programs, involving more than 10,000 schools. Read the entire article.
State Legislature Passes Local Farms Healthy Kids Bill by Tom Geiger. Press Release: Washington Environmental Council. Published 03/11/2008.
Today the state legislature passed the Local Farms – Healthy Kids bill (SSB 6483). Votes were very much bi-partisan and essentially unanimous in both the House and Senate. A key benefit of this legislation will make it easier for schools to buy locally grown food – providing markets for local farmers and nutritious, fresh local food for our children. As a package, this bill will become the most comprehensive local foods program in the nation. Read the entire article.
North Hampton Around the Schools by Tamara Le. Seacoast Online. Published 03/07/2008.
Janet Gorman presented information to the board on the New Hampshire Farm to School Program, a collaboration that would enable North Hampton students to have locally grown fresh organic produce on the school lunch menu for USDA prices. Read the entire article.
The Cafeteria/Classroom Convergence by Mike Buzalka. Food Management. Published 03/04/2008.
Read the entire article.
Ground Beef Recall a Serious Downer for Montana Schools by Kisha Lewellyn Schlegel. New West Living. Published 03/04/2008.
As the wasted pounds add up, many school employees, parents and students are questioning more than what’s for lunch. They are questioning the very safety of our current food system. For Robin Vogler, the Somers Middle School Food-Service Director, the recall is, “more reason than ever to pursue local food. Read the entire article.
Md. delegates hear Farm-to-School program testimony by Stephanie Jordan. American Farm. Published 03/04/2008.
Last week Maryland delegates heard testimony in support of House Bill 696, which would establish the Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program. The purpose of the bill is to promote and facilitate the sale of Maryland farm products to state schools and facilities. Read the entire article.
Restore the 'buy local' mandate by Senator Ginny Lyons. The Times Argus. Published 03/02/2008.
Congress must resist the USDA's undermining of the farm-to-school program. This local food initiative helps children develop eating habits that defend against diet-related disease. It supports all farmers, not just those who grow fruits and vegetables. Read the entire article.
Wash. measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Capital Press. Published 03/01/2008.
The potatoes still need to be planted, as do the squash, but at Kirsop Farm, Genine Bradwin and Colin Barricklow are readying their land for the abundance of vegetables that will go to farmers markets, co-ops and local schools. A small portion of their bounty - mostly potatoes, squash and salad mix - goes to the Olympia School District, which uses fresh fruit and vegetables from about eight local farmers for lunches in its 18 schools. Read the entire article.
WA measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Examiner. Published 03/01/2008.
The measure would help cut through some of the red tape that can prevent schools from getting local food - exempting schools from having to go through a competitive bidding process when they make large purchases of Washington grown food or food that was grown and processed in Washington state. Read the entire article.
States that have, or are considering, farm-to-school programs by Associated Press. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 03/01/2008.
Summary of states with farm to school policy. Read the entire article.
Provide safe, healthy meal options by Mark Vallianatos and Moira Beery. Pasadena Star News. Published 03/01/2008.
In support of farm to school: With increased funding and a renewed commitment to providing truly healthy meal options, we would face fewer nightmare scenarios of untraceable tainted ingredients, and school food would no longer be a "downer," but an exciting component of a healthy school environment. Read the entire article.
Farm to School by Jeannie Prescott. KSAX TV News. Published 02/29/2008.
Food usually travels about 1,500 miles before it arrives on our plates. But today at Roosevelt Elementary School in Willmar, students ate fresh rolls delivered that morning from Benson Bakery. This is not the first time locally grown and produced food has landed on their plates, thanks to the Farm To School program. Read the entire article.
Students aren't hip to the beet generation by Betsy Hammond. The Oregonian. Published 02/28/2008.
Since last February, elementary students have been offered local produce twice each month in the Harvest of the Month program -- squash in November, cherry cobbler in December, pears in January. But it doesn't mean the kids have to love beets. Read the entire article.
Support Our Local Farmers Letter to the Editor by State Senator James L. Seward. The Daily Star. Published 02/28/2008.
Farm to School legislation authorized the purchase of New York farm products by schools, universities and other educational institutions. It's been instrumental in ensuring that local farm products reach our school cafeterias, benefiting children and farmers alike. Read the entire article.
Even if you wince, don't look away by Deborah Kane. The Oregonian. Published 02/28/2008.
When we remember that the line between agricultural issues and health issues is paper thin, we have a real chance at crafting solutions that result in healthier children and a healthier farm economy. Read the entire article.
Fresh beets on the school lunch menu by Michael Rollins. The Oregonian. Published 02/27/2008.
Portland Public Schools, in collaboration with Ecotrust, has been trying to serve locally-grown fruit and produce all year in school lunches. At Meriwether Lewis Elementary School in Southeast Portland, the regular pizza lunch and taco lunch this day included optional helpings of beets, which were baked whole, then sliced. This video is of lunch on Feb. 27, 2008. Read the entire article.
Getting local foods into schools by Jane Lindholm. Vermont Public Radio. Published 02/27/2008.
The recent recall of beef from school cafeterias raised questions about where schools' food comes from. School lunch programs rely on federally subsidized foods that are trucked in from out of state, but schools are also turning to local farmers to provide more of what they serve. We examine the challenges of putting more local food in school cafeterias and how the effort also involves educating students about where their food comes from. Read the entire article.
Second annual session is in voters' hands by Peter Wong. Statesman Journal. Published 02/25/2008.
He also won passage of another bill establishing a farm-to-school program to promote links between Oregon agriculture and students. Read the entire article.
We chow down on a diet salted with mystery by Julie Deardorff. Chicago Tribune. Published 02/24/2008.
One of the most important outgrowths of farmers markets, however, is the growing popularity of farm-to-school programs, which are popping up all over the country, including Chicago, Oak Park, Grayslake and the northwest suburbs. Some of the efforts link local growers to school food-service companies so fresh food can be used in school lunches. It's a timely idea, given that the Agriculture Department recalled 143 million pounds of factory-farmed beef, after some of it had already been eaten in school lunch programs. Read the entire article.
Iowa farm-to-school program gets fresh foods to students by Elizabeth Ahlin. Omaha World Herald. Published 02/24/2008.
Iowa is now ramping up its own farm-to-school program, with the goal of getting fresh food to students and creating a new market for local farmers. Read the entire article.
Ore. lawmakers wrap up their 'test drive' annual session by Brad Cain and Julia Silverman. The Capital Press. Published 02/23/2008.
he Oregon Legislature's "test drive" of annual sessions came to a close late Friday after a day spent wrangling over final details on spending bills, bonding authority and a legislative referral on prison sentences. Among other bills approved in the Legislature's rush to close out the session: A plan to hire a farm-to-school coordinator for the Oregon Department of Education won support. Read the entire article.
Farm to school bill gets unanimous support from Oregon House by Associated Press. Oregon Live. Published 02/22/2008.
A plan to hire a farm-to-school coordinator for the Oregon Department of Education has won unanimous approval from the Oregon House of Representatives. The coordinator will be a liaison between Oregon school districts and local farmers. The idea is to help schools find local farmers and negotiate contracts with them and to make sure of compliance with federal rules on school food purchasing. Read the entire article.
Meat is a mystery to schools by Victoria Kim and Janet Wilson. Los Angeles Times. Published 02/22/2008.
Officials at Chino and other school districts around the country have little clue where the food supplied through the National School Lunch Program comes from. After this week's largest-ever recall of beef -- nearly 50 million pounds of which went to schools nationwide -- officials are nervous about the quality of the U.S. Department of Agriculture food that they have no choice but to trust. Read the entire article.
Farm to school bill gets unanimous support from Oregon House by Associated Press. The Examiner. Published 02/22/2008.
A plan to hire a farm-to-school coordinator for the Oregon Department of Education has won unanimous approval from the Oregon House of Representatives. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school bill gets unanimous support from Oregon House by Associated Press. The Capital Press. Published 02/22/2008.
Representative Tina Kotek of Portland, the sponsor, says the bill will help open markets for Oregon farmers. Read the entire article.
School food bill advances but without added funds by Mitch Lies. Capital Press. Published 02/22/2008.
Oregon's farm-to-school program received a slight boost on Feb. 19 when the Oregon Legislature's budget writing committee moved a farm-to-school bill to the House floor, but with a caveat. The joint Ways and Means Committee failed to provide funding for the program. Read the entire article.
Barclay Plan Will Strengthen Schools, Ensure Quality Education for Kids. NewzJunky. Published 02/21/2008.
Assemblyman Barclay's plan would improve the quality of school nutrition programs, and provide a boost for agriculture-related businesses here in Central and Northern New York, by enhancing the ability of local farmers to sell their products in our local schools. His proposal would remove barriers and provide increased State support for the purchase of local farm products by school districts. This will provide farmers with the opportunity to have a local market for their goods, while also supplying our school children with fresh locally grown healthy food and dairy products. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school programs keep food supply local -- with happy results by Eartha Jane Melzer. Michigan Messenger. Published 02/21/2008.
Now, as school cafeterias everywhere destroy what remains of the recalled meat and rearrange their menus, a growing farm-to-school movement seeks to restore the regional agricultural bonds that once linked consumers to farmers in their local communities. Read the entire article.
Edibles - A for appetizing by Eleni Collins. The Martha's Vineyard Times. Published 02/21/2008.
The Winter Local Foods Dinner was a fundraiser for the culinary arts department, a promotion for Farm to School, and a chance for the students to work with exceptional local ingredients while alongside professional chefs Dan Sauer of the Outermost Inn and Matt Safranek of the Harbor View. Read the entire article.
Vineyarders learn a lesson in local fare by Laurie Higgins. Cape Cod Times. Published 02/20/2008.
It's easy to find locally grown food in the summer, but what if you want to cook a local meal in February? That is exactly the challenge tackled last week by the Island Grown Initiative, a nonprofit group working to support local food on Martha's Vineyard; chef Daniel Sauer from the Outermost Inn; and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School's culinary arts department. The resulting dinner was a brilliant success. The dinner was the first official public event for the new Farm to School Program that Island Grown Initiative launched in December to try to create bridges between local farms and the schools. Read the entire article.
Anderson County produce program gives schools local options by Samantha Harris. Independent Mail. Published 02/18/2008.
If Anderson County schools are worried about getting tainted meat, the “Grow With Me” program might alleviate those concerns. During the Anderson County Board of Education meeting on Monday, Anderson County Farmers Market manager Brandon Grace and Allison Schaum, of Palmetto Agriculture Consultants, talked about the program, which could supply Anderson schools with locally-grown produce. Read the entire article.
Healthy foods rise to top of menu by Kara Hansen. The Daily Astorian. Published 02/13/2008.
Preparing some of the meals at Astoria High School has become a live performance of sorts with the addition of display cooking, a technique that aims to give students a hot, high-quality meal, its freshness proven by their ability to watch it made before their eyes. There's a statewide move toward farm-to-school food programs, for both environmental and health benefits. In Astoria, much of the district's produce and other foods already come from Oregon or not far from it: potatoes from Sherwood, rutabagas grown in Troutdale, apples and cherries from Rainier and Washington-milled flour. 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, farmers’ 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.
Proud of her school lunch program by Carol Judd. The Boston Globe. Published 02/09/2008.
Since implementing wellness policies, food service departments across the Commonwealth have been introducing products using whole grains. Directors are demanding, and suppliers are providing, more whole grain products. We have made a commitment to serving more fresh fruits and vegetables, and have partnered with the Farm to School Project to use locally grown produce. Read the entire article.
Local farmers may shake up school lunches by Aileen Charleston. The Federal Way Mirror. Published 02/09/2008.
In 2002, the Olympia School District introduced a pilot program at an elementary school that provided students with an organic salad bar containing locally grown fruits and vegetables during lunchtime. Buying from local farmers is a process that sounds easier than it is. Schools need to abide by strict state rules and regulations that force them to buy food from the lowest bidder, regardless of where the food items are grown. 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.
Prosperous Farms, Well-Fed Kids by Diane Conners. Great Lakes Bulletin News Service. Published 02/07/2008.
More than 30 schools in the region are now serving about a dozen local farm products, from apples to winter squash. Most schools worked with the Michigan Land Use Institute to figure out how to add local farm products to their cafeterias and bring first-hand experiences with farms to their classrooms. Schools embracing local foods have seen powerful results. Frankfort-Elberta students are eating five times as many apples since the school replaced the bland apples it was serving—picked for their tolerance of long distance shipping, not taste—with juicy, local varieties. A Benzie County Central elementary school ditched its traditional candy sale and raised $6,000 in one day by selling local farm products instead. Read the entire article.
New Site Connects Iowa Schools and Farms to Improve Nutrition. Url Wire. Published 02/06/2008.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced a new website for the Iowa Farm-to-School program, which is designed to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies by partnering farmers with local schools. Read the entire article.
Lawmakers take up farm-to-school plan by Mitch Lies. Capital Press. Published 02/05/2008.
An Oregon House committee on Jan. 23 forwarded a farm-to-school bill to the full Legislature that supporters said could improve school lunch menus and benefit Oregon farmers. Known currently as Legislative Concept 79, the bill calls for the state to add $95,000 to the Oregon Department of Education's 2007-09 budget to hire a farm-to-school program coordinator. The coordinator would work with chef Cory Schreiber, whom the Oregon Department of Agriculture hired earlier this year to be its farm-to-school program coordinator. Read the entire article.
Dave Matthews performs for farm to school fundraiser by Mike Greenhaus. Relix. Published 02/04/2008.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds will play their first show in Hawaii as part of Jack Johnson's fifth annual Kokua Festival. The funds raised from the Kokua Festival will be used to further support school recycling on Oahu, sponsor field trips, and roll out the new farm-to-school program 'AINA In Schools. Read the entire article.
Ag Department website links food producers with schools by Darwin Danielson. Radio Iowa. Published 02/04/2008.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey has introduced a new website designed to increase the size of the Iowa Farm-to-School program. He says the purpose of the program is to get farmers who're producing fruits and vegetables locally to connect with schools to sell some of those products to schools. Northey says the website can help both sides in the program. Read the entire article.
Lean Funds Keep School Food Fatty by Scott Learn and Betsy Hammond. The Oregonian. Published 02/03/2008.
Oregon's school nutrition leaders are trying to put more fresh foods in students' lunches, rely less on high-fat foods and buy from local farms and food processors. But economic constraints force most to rely on commodity meats and other products. Recent video footage of downed cows being slaughtered at a plant that sources to schools around the country highlighted the frustration school districts have receiving unknown ingredients. This article looks at the current make-up of school lunches and why and how Oregonians are fighting to transform it. Read the entire article.
My view: More fresh, local foods for students by Marion Kalb. Santa Fe New Mexican. Published 02/03/2008.
Students at more than 10,000 schools nationwide are eating fresh fruits and vegetables grown on nearby farms. The bad news is that school food service staffs, who prepare our children's lunches, are only given $1 per meal to buy the food they serve. Read the entire article.
IDALS Launches New Farm-To-School Program by Staff. Wallaces Farmer. Published 02/01/2008.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced last week a new Web site for the Iowa Farm-to-School program, which is designed to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies by partnering farmers with local schools. To learn more visit www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmToSchool.htm. Read the entire article.
Bills would help get local produce to schools by Staci Matlock. The New Mexican. Published 01/31/2008.
Several bills to promote locally grown produce are moving swiftly through the Legislature this session. Backers say the legislation is aimed at providing New Mexicans with healthier food and improving one of the state's more dismal statistics: New Mexico ranks second in the nation for food insecurity. Two bills would appropriate $1.44 million for schools to buy more fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for school lunches. Read the entire article.
Northey launches new Farm-to-School program Web site by Associated Press. Oskaloosa Herald. Published 01/30/2008.
The Farm-to-School program will provide an increased opportunity for schools to connect with local farmers to provide children across the state with fresh, locally grown, seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and nuts in their lunches. In addition to including local foods in school meals, the program also helps build a connection between students and the farmers that grow and produce their food. Read the entire article.
Lawmakers look to connect local food with schools by John Dodge. The Olympian. Published 01/28/2008.
State lawmakers considering a bill to make it easier for K-12 schools, state agencies and colleges to buy Washington-grown food should stop by the public cafeteria in the Pritchard Building on the Capitol Campus to see how the food connection can work. Read the entire article.
Farms, schools may cultivate relationships by Jennifer Henrichsen. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 01/25/2008.
School cafeteria food still bites. Just ask Aiden Kerr, a fifth-grader from Seattle. The 10-year-old student told state House committee members Thursday that the amount of processed food in school cafeterias is "profoundly disgusting" and that it needs to change. Aiden was one of several to testify in favor of House Bill 2798, also known as the local farms/healthy kids act. If enacted, the bill would enhance student health while also boosting farm economies. Read the entire article.
Iowa's Northey unveils Farm-to-School web site by Peter Shinn. Brownfield Network. Published 01/25/2008.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is working to connect local schools with food produced by local farmers. Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey told Brownfield his Department is moving quickly to implement the farm-to-school law passed last year by the state legislature. Read the entire article.
Ag secretary launches Farm-to-School Web site. Sioux City Journal. Published 01/24/2008.
Iowa agriculture secretary Bill Northey this morning announced a new Web site for the Iowa Farm-to-School program, which is designed to improve school nutrition and strengthen farm economies by partnering farmers with local schools. The Web site is located at www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmToSchool.htm. Read the entire article.
Bill seeks to get more healthful food into schools by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/24/2008.
The polite word fifth-grader Aden Kahr uses to describe school lunches is "problematic." Aden joined farmers, parents, school nutritionists, social-service providers, food banks and environmental groups in urging the state to get more healthful Washington-grown food into cafeterias. Read the entire article.
Ag Sec. Northey: Launches new farm-to-school program website by Tess Capps. Iowa Politics. Published 01/24/2008.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced a new website for the Iowa Farm-to-School program, which is designed to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies by partnering farmers with local schools. To learn more visit http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmToSchool.htm Read the entire article.
Multiplication tables by Editorial Board. The Oregonian. Published 01/22/2008.
Parents want their kids to eat more fresh produce, schools want to serve it, and Oregon farmers are eager to sell it. While the state Department of Agriculture has expertise in farms and food processing, Schreiber will need a counterpart with expertise in school nutrition to meet him halfway. That's why the farm-to-school coalition will be in Salem this week, seeking $95,000 for a matching position -- think salt and pepper -- in the state Department of Education. Read the entire article.
Giving teeth to food policies by Stephanie Kosonen. GoSkagit. Published 01/22/2008.
Mo McBroom, a lobbyist and policy director for the Washington Environmental Council said the Local Farms, Healthy Kids bill aims to correct that and other roadblocks farmers could experience with getting their product into institutional kitchens. It would create a Farm-to-School program to foster relationships between farms and schools. The program would troubleshoot predicted supply issues and help to introduce curricula for students to learn about the environmental, economic and health benefits of consuming locally grown foods. The bill would also help eliminate red tape that currently prevents schools from being able to buy local food. Read the entire article.
Cory Schreiber Takes on Hot Lunch by Stacy Larsen. Live PDX. Published 01/15/2008.
Currently, only 14% of school nutrition services food originates in Oregon. Working out of the Food Innovation Center, Schreiber’s focus is to increase the amount of fresh, Oregon foods moving from farmers to school cafeterias to upwards of 50%. Read the entire article.
Jr. Iron Chef Competition to be held at the Expo. Burlington Free Press. Published 01/14/2008.
Vermont middle and high school students are invited to participate in the Jr. Iron Chef Competition on April 12 at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, a fundraiser for the Burlington School Food Project and VT FEED’s farm-to-school programs. Teams of three to five students in the middle school and high school competitions will create one or two dishes that could be prepared for school food service menus using seasonal, local foods. Teams must be chaperoned by a parent or school employee. Application deadline is Feb. 8. Applications and more information at 864-8415, www.JrIronChefVT.org or www.vtfeed.org. Read the entire article.
Study: Kids Will Eat Healthy School Meals. Nurse.com. Published 01/10/2008.
A University of Minnesota study that appeared in the Review of Agricultural Economics shows school lunch sales don’t decline when healthier meals are served and that more nutritious foods don’t necessarily cost schools more to produce. The study contradicts the findings of previous studies, which showed students preferred fatty foods and that healthier meals cost more to make, the authors said. The researchers analyzed five years of data for 330 Minnesota public school districts and found the schools that served the healthiest lunches did not see a drop in demand. The study looked at compliance with federal standards for calories, nutrients, and fats. Read the entire article.
Bill aims to put local foods on school lunch menus by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/09/2008.
Legislation to be proposed in Olympia next week could catapult Washington to the forefront of national efforts to get more farm-fresh, locally grown food into lunches at schools and at other institutions. It borrows from piecemeal efforts in other states, but would go further. Read the entire article.
Renegade lunch lady saving kids' lives, one plate at a time by Fran Fifis. CNN. Published 01/09/2008.
Ann Cooper is on a whirlwind campaign to change the way kids eat in schools. "We're killing our kids with food," she says. Half of all the Hispanic and African-American kids born in 2000 and one-third of Caucasian kids will have diabetes in their lifetime, many before they graduate college, Cooper says, citing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. "It's all because of what we are feeding them," she says. "It's all preventable." Read the entire article.
Chef leads effort to serve Oregon food to students by Leslie Cole. The Oregonian. Published 01/08/2008.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture hires its first farm-to-school coordinator to increase the quantity of Oregon-grown foods in school lunchrooms. The new hire? Renowned Portland chef Cory Schreiber. Read the entire article.
Agriculture summit plants a seed for future economic growth by Heidi Cenac. Anderson Independent-Mail News. Published 01/04/2008.
Sustainable agriculture involves three pillars: farming in a way that preserves the land for future generations, creating systems and practices that make farming economically feasible, and preserving the viability of rural communities. James Horne of the Kerr Center told those in attendance about creating farm-to-school programs that allow local farmers to provide food to surrounding schools. It’s one of several ideas that Brandon Grace, manager at the Anderson County Farmers’ Market, wants to implement here to make agriculture a sustainable industry. Read the entire article.
Farmers Going Back to School by Debra Eschmeyer. Touch the Soil. Published 01/01/2008.
The move underway in America, to connect schools to local farms, will be the best educational and nutritional enhancement to public health and education in this century. By virtue of their educational missions, community-building potential, and purchasing power, K-12 schools have a unique responsibility to act as models for social responsibility, which includes the food served to students at school. Farm to School is a school-based program that connects K-12 schools and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting small and medium-sized local and regional farmers. Read the entire article.
Pioneer in Northwest cuisine works on Oregon school supplies by Associated Press. Rockford Register Star. Published 12/30/2007.
As the acclaimed, James Beard award-winning chef of Wildwood Restaurant in Portland for 13 years, Cory Schreiber has served plenty of discerning patrons. But come 2008, he'll have to please a whole new set of picky palates: Oregon's schoolchildren. Read the entire article.
Restaurateur leads farm-to-school effort. East Oregonian. Published 12/26/2007.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has hired noted chef and author Cory Schreiber to spearhead and manage the department's efforts to increase use of Oregon fresh and processed foods in the state's school feeding programs. Read the entire article.
Upstate farmers to supply school veggies by Associated Press. CBS: Albany. Published 12/24/2007.
Under a new "Farm to School" program, children in the Big Apple will soon be crunching carrots from upstate fields. Schoharie Valley Farms, southwest of Albany, will soon start shipping carrot slices to more than a million kids in New York City's 1,400 schools. Read the entire article.
Oregon Department of Agriculture hires noted chef by Associated Press. KTVZ. Published 12/22/2007.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has hired a James Beard award winning chef to try and get more locally grown food into Oregon schools. Read the entire article.
Committee’s goal is to provide county residents access to healthy foods by Carolyn Lange. West Central Tribune. Published 12/20/2007.
A crisscross network of people who grow, pack, transport, distribute, buy and eat food, and then dispose of or compost the leftovers, exists in every community. The network that joins people with life-sustaining food, however, is interrupted by poverty, lack of nutritional education and a system that, for the most part, forces people to rely on a distant food source that’s vulnerable to soaring gas prices, natural disasters, a changing climate and even terrorism. For the last several months the Kandiyohi County Food System Steering Committee has been studying the food network in Kandiyohi County in an attempt to better understand how it works. Read the entire article.
Renowned restaurateur to help get more Oregon foods into schools. The Oregonian. Published 12/20/2007.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture announces the hiring of noted chef and author Cory Schreiber to spearhead and manage the department's efforts to increase utilization of Oregon fresh and processed foods in the state's school food programs. In his new role, Schreiber will work with farmers, food processors, distributors and school district food service staff, as well as existing farm-to-school groups and programs, to help get more nutritious, locally produced foods into Oregon schools. Read the entire article.
Wilderness 'facts' disputed by Bill Ayres. The Mountain Mail. Published 12/20/2007.
Are food banks necessary? The answer is yes, but with an explanation. Read the entire article.
Get more local produce into the schools by Joan Crooks and Clayton Burrows. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 12/18/2007.
We believe Washington is a special place to live that is blessed with productive farmland, thriving communities and millions of people who all want a healthy future for their kids. We believe in helping local farms thrive by providing increased markets for Washington crops while providing nutritious food options for kids in our schools. "Local Farms -- Healthy Kids" is an idea that marries these goals of thriving farms and healthy kids into one legislative proposal. Read the entire article.
Farm to School Program is a Hit with Students. Country Folks. Published 12/17/2007.
Article highlights one community's successful Farm to School Project that was a product of a state funded Farm to School grant. Read the entire article.
Education commissioner tours White Earth schools by Amber Nohrenberg. DL-Online. Published 12/12/2007.
Seagren asked about the rate of prevalence of childhood obesity at the school, a growing problem nationwide for children. Lukvik said the school has developed a “farm to school” program that brings locally grown foods to the school, a healthier alternative to the regular menu of highly processed school lunches. The school also works on including traditional American Indian foods. In the school’s lunch area, the walls are decorated with posters for different challenges for the students, such as a walking challenge and a wild rice harvest challenge. Lukvik said students and elders participate in the programs. Read the entire article.
Things you can do now at your school by Tara Roberts. Cosmo Girl. Published 12/11/2007.
Eat locally and healthfully. Farm to School connects school cafeterias to local farms. Instead of shipping frozen foods across the nation in huge trucks, which uses tons of fuel, you can eat fresh produce and meat from around the corner. More than 700 school districts across the nation participate. Contact Farm to School for more info. Read the entire article.
From the farm to the lunch tray by Chad Petri. WKRG News. Published 12/04/2007.
For the fourth year in a row, much of this year's satsuma harvest is going to Alabama public schools in the "farm to school" program. "We look at it as a win win situation," says Director of the Gulf Coast research and extension center Ronnie McDaniel. "I mean, it's helping the growers, plus the kids are getting a good fruit." Read the entire article.
Cafeteria Lunch May Be Farms’ Growing Market by Julia Rappaport. Vineyard Gazette. Published 11/30/2007.
Martha’s Vineyard does not have a celebrity chef to revolutionize its cafeteria food, but on Tuesday, members of the Island Grown Initiative will join with parents, teachers, farmers and lunch ladies to try their hand at changing school lunch. The transformation begins, according to Ali Berlow, executive director of the initiative, with a new Vineyard chapter of a national program called Farm to School. Read the entire article.
Food For Students From Students by Steven Goode. The Hartford Courant. Published 11/28/2007.
The instructional plan developed by Cipriano and Rodrigues called for students to use the 11-year-old Agri-Science & Technology Center to grow fresh vegetables for the school district's lunch tables, including kale, leeks, winter squash, parsley, oregano, onions and Scotch bonnets, a Jamaican chili pepper. Read the entire article.
Farm to School Council seeks "hands on approach" to food learning by Pat Curtis. Radio Iowa. Published 11/28/2007.
A former candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture is among the Governor's appointees to serve on the new Farm to School Council. Denise O'Brien, along with her husband Larry, raises fruits and vegetables near Atlantic. O'Brien is one of seven people that will help guide a new program approved by the legislature last year. The Farm to School program is designed to provide students with a more "hands-on approach" when it comes to learning about food production. Read the entire article.
Alberton students enjoy eating fruits of labor by Vince Devlin and Kim Briggeman. Missoulian. Published 11/28/2007.
There was chili meat from Missoula, onions from the Bitterroot Valley and potatoes from Manhattan (the Montana one.) But the students of Alberton School made their own salsa, out of tomatoes they grew in the local community garden. And they chowed down on apples picked in Norm Brovold's orchard. The recent homegrown school lunch was the latest activity of Alberton's first fling with the Farm-to-School program, the Mineral Independent reports. And organizers say it's had all kinds of benefits already. Read the entire article.
Students focus on healthy eating by Cymbre Foster. Traverse City Record-Eagle. Published 11/27/2007.
Amy White was looking for a way to change what kids ate at Glen Lake Community Schools without making the students feel forced to do it. Senior Abbie Christiansen said she's not only learned a lot about food, but about how to take what she's learned and make changes at a grassroots level. "I've always been interested in healthy foods but I've also learned about the kinds of things we can do at our school to be part of the farm-to-school movement and getting healthier food into our school, which is a nice option to have after school," said the 18-year-old. Read the entire article.
Study: Kids Will Eat Healthy School Food by Associated Press. NY Times. Published 11/26/2007.
Maybe getting schoolchildren to eat healthy foods isn’t a hopeless struggle. Bucking some common notions, a University of Minnesota study has found that school lunch sales don’t decline when healthier meals are served, and that more nutritious lunches don’t necessarily cost schools more to produce. Read the entire article.
Stirring up nutrition goals for farm bill by Nicole Gaouette. Los Angeles Times. Published 11/25/2007.
Parents, nutritionists and physicians want Congress to overhaul the legislation, which they say promotes fatty school lunches, in an effort to fight obesity. Those changes would have a direct impact on Los Angeles children, said Elizabeth Medrano, an organizer for the Healthy School Food Coalition, which has worked for the last six years to improve school lunches. "We see access to healthy food, daily, as a health benefit, a prevention program," she said. Read the entire article.
Mettawee Holiday Feast Goes Localvore by Sarah Hinkley. Rutland Herald. Published 11/20/2007.
While fifth-graders of Mettawee Community School in West Pawlet gave a slew of red potatoes a final scrub, second-graders in Brook Debonis's class broke bread for stuffing. Everyone was pitching in to put together the first "Eat Local Challenge" Thanksgiving feast at the West Pawlet school. At noon today, the pupils, staff and senior guests — close to 450 people — are expected to be served a feast made of as much local produce and poultry as possible... Read the entire article.
Students get fruit facts in vote by Lucas K. Murray. Gloucester County Times. Published 11/17/2007.
A special election was held in Paulsboro on Friday morning with three candidates vying for votes among a finicky electorate. No, it wasn't to decide an open council seat The young voters of Billingsport Elementary School were choosing an apple to appear on the cafeteria menu as part of their school wellness initiative. Read the entire article.
Local ag organization snags award by John Boyle. Asheville Citizen-Times. Published 11/15/2007.
The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project was named nonprofit of the year, and in its press release, the association noted that "for a decade ASAP has been running one of the most successful local food campaigns in the Southeast, and has been a leader in the farm-to-school movement. This year ASAP published a groundbreaking study of the value of local food to the economy of Western North Carolina, showing the market in that region alone could be worth almost half a billion dollars." Read the entire article.
School food firm gets ‘A’ for apples by Benjamin N. Gedan. The Providence Journal. Published 11/13/2007.
In a rare serving of positive financial news for Rhode Island farmers, food service giant Sodexho has agreed to greatly expand its local purchases. The deal, brokered by the nonprofit group Kids First, involves agreements with at least three farms to supply apples, butternut squash and potatoes to Sodexho. The food company supplies breakfast and lunch to 13 school districts. Their clients, including Woonsocket, Scituate and Cumberland, educate 58,600 students. Read the entire article.
Leahy, Sanders And Welch Slam Bush For Targeting MILC Program In White House’s New Veto Threat To Th. All American Patriots. Published 11/09/2007.
Welch said, “The President is once again demonstrating his reckless and out-of-touch priorities. We are working hard to assure fairer milk prices, cut commodity payments for wealthy Western farmers, support farm-to-school programs, and fund food stamps. President Bush is yet again a roadblock to progress.” Read the entire article.
Gov. Culver: Appoints four members to the Farm to School Council by Brad Anderson. Iowa Politics. Published 11/08/2007.
Function of the Farm to School Council: The program seeks to link elementary and secondary public and nonpublic schools in this state with Iowa farms to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed food for inclusion in school meals and snacks, encourage children to develop healthy eating habits, and provide Iowa farmers access to consumer markets. The Farm-to-School program may include activities that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and composting programs. The program shall seek to establish with public agencies and nonprofit organizations, a structure to facilitate communication between farmers and schools. Read the entire article.
Community Food Projects and the Farm Bill by Debra Eschmeyer. KPFK: Uprising. Published 11/05/2007.
Anyone who eats has an interest and stake in the farm bill. Passed by Congress approximately every five years, the farm bill is a giant piece of legislation that forms the foundation of our food system. It sets policies and budgets for everything from crop subsidies and country-of-origin labeling to food stamps and conservation programs. The farm bill directly impacts everything you eat and as a tax payer, you are footing the bill. Read the entire article.
Weed It and Reap by Michael Pollan. NY Times. Published 11/04/2007.
There’s an important provision in both bills that will make it easier for schools to buy food from local farmers. And there’s money to promote farmers’ markets and otherwise support the local food movement. Read the entire article.
County Budget Committee Gingerly Approves $2 Million LCSO Budget by Sherwood Olin. The Lincoln County News. Published 10/31/2007.
Winston said her office is currently pursuing a $26,000 grant that will support the Farm to School initiative: an effort encouraging Lincoln County schools to acquire their food from sources local growers. Read the entire article.
New farm bill should promote healthier foods by Mladen Golubic. The Wichita Eagle. Published 10/31/2007.
The FRESH Act also would increase funding for a wide array of smart initiatives, including farm-to-school programs, farmers' markets, fruit and vegetable promotion, and the fruit and vegetable snack program that provides free, healthy snacks to schoolkids across around the country. Read the entire article.
School lunch goes gourmet in Rockport by Lynda Clancy. Knox County Times Village Soup. Published 10/29/2007.
The scent of rosemary and sage filled the kitchen at Camden Hills Regional High School last week, with steam rolling high above pans of angel hair pasta, waiting to be tossed with shrimp and red peppers. This fall, she's inviting professional chefs once a month into the high school kitchen to prepare a special dish for students and staff, one that will appeal to just about everyone, and represent a healthy meal. 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.
A taste for local food in Oregon schools by Bruce Pokarney. The Hillsboro Argus. Published 10/23/2007.
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture proponents of getting more nutritious and locally-grown foods into Oregon schools may have additional support thanks to a project just completed by Oregon State University and one just getting started by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Read the entire article.
Center for Integrated Ag Systems to Focus on 'Farm to School' Programs. Wisconsin Ag Connection. Published 10/23/2007.
The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been named as lead agency in a six-state area for a new national program to encourage schools to serve more locally grown food. As regional lead agency for the National Farm-to-School Network, CIAS will be the hub for farm-to-school activities in the Great Lakes region, encompassing Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Indiana. Read the entire article.
EPA Announces First-Ever Ag Advisory Committee. USAgNet. Published 10/18/2007.
"Continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the establishment of the first-ever Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. The panel is being formed under the guidelines of the National Strategy for Agriculture, and it will advise the administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches and rural communities and operate under the rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Read the entire article.
New Farm to School Link Launched. The Ellsworth American. Published 10/18/2007.
As a means to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms and improve student health, the National Farm to School Network launched this week its improved Web site, farmtoschool.org. The release coincides with National School Lunch Week, Oct. 15-19. Read the entire article.
Burlington School Food Project: A recipe for school and community partnership by Susan H. Stafford. The Center for Public Education. Published 10/17/2007.
This city-wide, community-driven initiative has incorporated local farming practices into the classroom through science, math, literacy, and nutrition curriculum and brought fresh produce and healthy eating practices into this district’s lunchrooms. Read the entire article.
Fresh-produce market makes some gains with schools by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/16/2007.
The big challenge is to create farm-to-cafeteria programs on an economically meaningful scale.
"You can hardly turn on the radio and not find something about food security, buying local, concerns about global warming," said Allen Rozema, executive director of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. "We're on a wave of change, and maybe that's why we're getting traction that other groups haven't in the past."
Read the entire article.Naturally Iowa, Inc. Supplies Elementary School With Good Natured Family Farms Milk Products. CNN Money. Published 10/16/2007.
The dairy products supplied by Naturally Iowa are part of the "Farm 2 School Lunch Program," facilitated by Bistro Kids, LLC, Good Natured Family Farms, and Ball's Food Stores. The goal of the program is "to bring local, farm fresh or organic foods from the small family farm to your child's lunch tray." Read the entire article.
Let's Redo School Lunch by Gail Borelli. The Kansas City Star. Published 10/16/2007.
Helping children put a face to the farmers who grow their food is a concept that is building momentum, says Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School Program, a national clearinghouse for information and assistance. Each school’s program is unique because of seasonality and community support, she says, and most include in the lunch line just one or two local foods, such as apples. Read the entire article.
Local Carrots With a Side of Red Tape by Kim Severson. NY Times. Published 10/16/2007.
The dirt on Richard Ball’s farm in Schoharie County is 15 feet deep, rich with minerals and perfect for growing sweet carrots.About 150 miles south, the New York City schools serve 850,000 meals a day. Some of them contain carrots. But the carrots come from other states. So Mr. Ball and a group of people dedicated to getting local food into cafeterias had an idea: Why not feed New York City schoolchildren New York State carrots? Read the entire article.
School Food Going Local by Timothy Cipriano. The Hartford Courant. Published 10/16/2007.
Two years ago, the Connecticut General Assembly enacted legislation to eliminate junk food such as soda, greasy potato chips and other unhealthy food options from our schools. In addition, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture established the Connecticut Farm-to-School program, which not only gets locally grown products into school cafeterias but also supports local farms that offer fresher produce for school meals and snacks. This effort not only provides healthier food for our children as the country struggles with childhood obesity, it also provides much-needed economic assistance to small local farms. Read the entire article.
Many barriers keep organic food out of school lunches by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/15/2007.
In the Puget Sound region, consumers increasingly want local food -- for the fresh taste, to curb carbon emissions or because of concerns about the safety of food grown overseas. While schools are offering healthier menu choices, what seems like a no-brainer -- feeding local kids locally grown food -- is surprisingly hard to do.
Read the entire article.Olympia district's farm-to-school program a role model by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/15/2007.
Across the Olympia School District, each cafeteria offers a hot lunch and salad bar loaded with protein sources, organic produce and greens picked a few miles down the road. The organic salad bar started five years ago after parents at Lincoln Elementary helped make connections with local farms. It's now offered in every school.
In a time of tight budgets, the district has found ways to buy food that others consider luxuries. Half to 70 percent of its produce on any given day is organic, compared with the occasional item in many schools. About 7 percent comes from local farms.
Read the entire article.
Spell is the enforcer of food laws by Michael A. Bell. Sun Herald. Published 10/12/2007.
BILOXI --State Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Lester Spell said protecting residents from tainted catfish imported from China, along with initiating a program to help obese students eat farm-fresh vegetables, are reasons voters should re-elect him Nov. 6. Spell identified the state as being the worst in the nation for obesity. His Farm to School program is not only helping school children eat healthier, but also benefitting local growers who sell produce directly to school systems. Read the entire article.
From the field to the cafeteria by Will Sands. The Durango Telegraph. Published 10/11/2007.
Locally raised meat, vegetables and grains are beginning to take the place of canned peas and tater tots in La Plata County. Area schoolchildren are reaping the benefits of locally farmed food now that Durango’s Farm-to-School effort is picking up momentum. Farm to School is a national effort rooted in a basic concept. Schools, the most community-driven of all institutions, should get their food from the source – local farms and ranches. Children’s nutritional needs are better served, students gain valuable education about food systems and local environmental issues, and local farmers get a much-needed financial boost. Read the entire article.
Local students are eating up fresh produce by Sheila G. Miller. The Bulletin. Published 10/09/2007.
Throughout the year, students in the Bend-La Pine Schools stand in front of a large fruit and vegetable bar and often get the chance to choose between locally grown wedges of cantaloupe and watermelon, some grabbing dozens of cherry tomatoes and pepper strips. The produce comes through a farm-to-school program, sparked by the same woman who manages the Bend Farmers Market. Read the entire article.
Food for thought by Taryn Plumb. The Boston Globe. Published 10/07/2007.
Through the "Get Smart, Eat Local" Farm to School program facilitated by the University of New Hampshire in Durham, Heron Pond regularly provides produce to 27 schools comprising 15,000 students. "People like New Hampshire the way it is: a rural state. But if we don't support our local businesses, it's not going to stay that way," said Nathan Duclos, UNH Farm to School Director. "If we can replace even 10 percent of [school cafeteria food] with local food, it would make a big difference. Read the entire article.
Students shuck mounds of corn for harvest week by Delia Marshall. Somerville Journal. Published 10/07/2007.
"Somerville - Corn silk was flying all over town as Somerville schoolchildren celebrated Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week (Sept. 24-28). Throughout the week, students were encouraged to eat fresh, locally grown items at lunch. These included pears, melon slices, apples, tomatoes, zucchini, and most dramatically, corn on the cob. Read the entire article.
Farm fresh, but at school by Karen Herzog. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Published 10/06/2007.
School kids in this rural community have something in common with one of America's most celebrated chefs, Rick Bayless. They get fresh vegetables from the same Wisconsin farm. Persuading kids to eat what's good for them has challenged school lunch programs for decades. But this farm-to-school project provides locally grown fruits and vegetables so fresh and flavorful that many kids not only eat them, but like them. Read the entire article.
Making Use of Local Produce by Dana Hudson. Rutland Herald. Published 10/04/2007.
In the past few years, Vermont-grown tomatoes, zucchini, and basil have started showing up in the school cafeteria meals of Vermont children. This is no coincidence. This new development required a great deal of coordination between public schools, nonprofit organizations, area farmers and school food service staff. Read the entire article.
Fresh, Local at High School by Melissa Beecher. The Boston Globe. Published 10/04/2007.
Participating in the state's Harvest for Students Week, Bedford High School is purchasing local produce for lunches through Lanni Orchards, a Lunenburg farm. Buoyed by the statewide Farm-to-School Project, Harvest for Students was held last week in Bedford and other communities. According to the state, 40 local farms are selling produce to 85 public schools and 13 colleges across the Commonwealth. Read the entire article.
In the lunchroom, the flavors are local by Catherine Baum. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Published 10/04/2007.
"The food at the Williston Northampton School cafeteria last week hadn't traveled far. For the Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week, the school served up produce straight from the fields of Westhampton. At least 100 Massachusetts school districts and colleges joined in the statewide iniative last week, putting locally grown foods at the center of its menus." Read the entire article.
Can the "farm-to-school" movement gain traction in Philly? by Tom Namako. City Paper. Published 10/03/2007.
"I really think there are some hurdles to doing it, but is it impossible to do? We sent a man to the moon. Just buy corn from Pennsylvania processors who buy Pennsylvania corn." Read the entire article.
Area schools join state in recognizing benefits of locally-grown foods by Kevin Goodwin. The Saratogian. Published 10/02/2007.
This week is New York Harvest for New York Kids Week (NYH4NYK), which is the annual celebration encouraging nutritious food choices among children, while promoting and supporting New York farmers. It ties in with the state's ongoing Farm-to-School efforts, which work to promote fresh New York products on school menus. Read the entire article.
Grow Montana Snags National Award by Kisha Lewellyn Schlegel. New West. Published 10/02/2007.
To strengthen local food systems, Grow Montana also created FoodCorps with four AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers who work to create Farm to Schoolinstitutional buying programs at schools and institutions around the state. This year, the coalition also worked with the Montana legislature to pass aprocurement bill that allows state institutions to more easily purchase Montana made food, opening a $33 million market to local farmers and ranchers. Read the entire article.
Eating Locally - Bath County Schools buy produce from local farmers by Madelynn Coldiron. Kentucky School Advocate - The monthly newsletter of the Kentucky School Boards Association. Published 10/01/2007.
Bath County schools are helping local farmers improve their bottom line while the farmers are making sure students get quality veggies and fruits in their cafeterias. Read the entire article.
Oral Health America Celebrates National School Lunch Week. Oral Health America. Published 10/01/2007.
Good oral health and good nutrition go hand-in-hand, and National School Lunch Week (October 15-19) is a great opportunity to ensure that children are eating healthy foods for lunch. Read the entire article.
Fresh, Local Produce for Kids a Win-Win-Win. The Ann Arbor News. Published 09/28/2007.
Each Friday, elementary and middle schools students in the Ann Arbor school district are served fruits and vegetables from local farms, with signs telling them the names of the farms that grew the produce. Read the entire article.
Farm Freshness Goes to School by Karen Nugent. Worcester Telegram & Gazette News. Published 09/28/2007.
Worcester cafeterias helped launch lunches with locally grown crops.
The Worcester public school system was a pilot program site three years ago for the Massachusetts Farm to School Project, a state Department of Agricultural Resources program. The program now involves more than 50 Massachusetts farms selling locally grown food — sometimes including eggs, cheese and meats — to more than 100 schools and colleges in the state. Approximately 20 participating school districts, as well as Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University, are in Central Massachusetts.
Read the entire article.
Somes schools, students make a hash of anti-junk food law by Stacy Finz. San Francisco Chronicle. Published 09/28/2007.
"It seems that while kids were preparing to go back to school this fall, food manufacturers were busy re-creating their products - shrinking portions, eliminating trans fats and baking instead of frying - to make them meet the requirements of the Food Nutrition Standards Bill by July 1." Read the entire article.
Goodbye trans fats, hello broccoli: Farm to School project brings local edibles into cafeterias by Mary Carey. Amherst Bulletin. Published 09/28/2007.
"In recognition of the first annual Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week, Sept. 24 to 30, Amherst elementary schools students could choose locally grown tomatoes, squash, carrots, green beans, watermelon and cantaloupe along with their main course. On Tuesday, they could be seen opting for the vegetables and fruit without the least bit of prodding. The statewide initiative was coordinated by The Massachusetts Farm to School Project, an organization founded and run by Wildwood Elementary School parent Kelly Erwin, and sponsored by the state's Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Agricultural Preservation Corporation, MassDevelopment and Project Bread." Read the entire article.
Houlton: Schools reap healthful harvest by Jen Lynds. Bangor Daily News Newspaper. Published 09/27/2007.
Houlton Maine completed its 2nd annual Harvest luch with great success. The school district included more then the Food Service program for the better of the students. Read the entire article.
A Maine Course for Students by Craig Crosby. Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel. Published 09/27/2007.
The Nokomis High School junior had no idea that Wednesday's hot lunch was almost entirely locally produced, but Raye could see the difference in the potatoes, chicken and corn on her tray.
"It looks real," she said with a laugh.
Read the entire article.Schools work to contain meal prices by Gregg L. Parker. The Huntsville Times. Published 09/26/2007.
The rising cost of milk and fresh produce has proved itself to be a hindering factor in implementing a reasonably priced lunch at Madison City School. This article explains the negative effects of price increases in breakfast staples as a result of increased transportation cost and decreased supply. However, the Madison City Schools are steadfast in their belief for a healthy and affordable lunch and this article explains how this problem is being tackled. Read the entire article.
BHS Initiates Fresh Produce Lunch Program by Patrick Ball. Bedford Minuteman. Published 09/26/2007.
Usually fresh, local produce can be found only at high-end restaurants or farmers’ markets. But now, Bedford High School can be added to that once-exclusive list. Read the entire article.
Cape harvest festival shows off local food. Cape Cod Times. Published 09/26/2007.
The Cape's second annual harvest festival coincides with this week being the first Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week, according to a proclamation signed by Gov. Deval Patrick. Farmers, students, school food services directors and public officials will gather across the Commonwealth to draw attention to the wide variety of locally produced foods Massachusetts has to offer. Read the entire article.
Locally Grown Foods Served by Pamela H. Metaxas. The Republican. Published 09/25/2007.
A simple, healthy message was delivered at Lambert-Lavoie School yesterday: Local produce in school meals helps students learn healthy eating habits to avoid obesity and subsequent health problems. Read the entire article.
More Pupils Eat What Neighboring Farms Grow by TESS NACELEWICZ. Portland Press Herald. Published 09/24/2007.
Local projects stress economic, educational and health benefits of using Maine-grown produce.
Locally Grown Fruits, Veggies a Hit by David Jesse. The Ann Arbor News. Published 09/24/2007.
Student after student found room for the fresh fruit, cleaning out each serving tray almost as soon as it came out of the kitchen. Read the entire article.
A Tamer of Schools Has Plan in New Orleans by Adam Nossiter. The New York Times. Published 09/24/2007.
Despite the two year anniversary this August of Hurricane Katrina, it is safe to say that the emotional and social impacts far outweighs the physical devastation caused by this natural disaster. As the new year starts in New Orleans, vocal school administrators voice the need for the school systems to be a second family to the students by not only providing a strong structural foundation but also addressing the poverty issue as well, which would require providing three meals a day and health and dental care. Read the entire article.
A Feast for the Children by Kathryn Hudy. The Ithaca Journal. Published 09/24/2007.
Nutrition program expands in local schools; helps children make healthy choices Read the entire article.
It Doesn't Get Any Fresher Than This by Elissa Bass. The Day. Published 09/21/2007.
| The State's Farm-to-School Program Brings Local Produce Into Public Schools |
Food Bank Seeks Change to Farm Bill by Rob Chaney. The Missoulian. Published 09/21/2007.
The farm bill delivers the grant funding needed by Garden City Harvest, Farm to School and other local projects that produce locally grown food to Missoula residents and schools. Read the entire article.
Beach Café promotes healthy eating at high school by Sarah Bates. Fallbrooks Bonsall Village News. Published 09/20/2007.
Featured as one of the leaders in healthy meal plans, Fallbrook High School strives to better itself by implementing programs which are both tasty and healthy. These changes have been the result in rising concern from parents on a national scale which led to the establishment of Senate Bill 965, which set restrictions for fat and sugar content in cafeteria food. Read the entire article.
Tory Pledge: Schools, Hospitals to Buy Local by GLORIA GALLOWAY AND DAVID ANDREATTA. The Globe and Mail. Published 09/19/2007.
Hospital patients, school children, civil servants and provincial prisoners would eat Ontario broccoli, apples, pork and everything else grown and raised on the rich farmland of the province where John Tory would be premier. Read the entire article.
Deal on Fees Might Keep Local Produce at Schools by Michelle Jarboe. News & Record. Published 09/19/2007.
Schools will pay more in delivery fees this year to receive fresh fruit and vegetables from North Carolin