National Media Coverage
Across the country, young people have been getting into the "real food" act, from advocating for sustainable, ethical, local food on their college campuses to fighting for justice for farmworkers to ditching their Williamsburg apartments and becoming farmers. · Read the entire article.
Lawrence’s biggest food stories of 2010 by Sarah Henning Lawrence Journal-World Published 12/28/2010
Arguably, the biggest Lawrence food story of 2010 was made possible by some of the city’s smallest residents. Coming on the heels of successful gardens at private schools (Prairie Moon Waldorf School) and daycare centers around Lawrence, The Community Mercantile’s Nancy O’Connor led an initiative that brought a garden and oodles of food education to West Junior High in 2010. · Read the entire article.
Cooking up more healthful school meals by Chidinma Okparanta Washington Post Published 12/23/2010
Eme Akonawe is one of 54 students at Laurel High who soon will get the opportunity to create healthier meals for Prince George's County schools by forming Culinary and Healthful Enhancement Food, or CHEF, teams as part of a countywide competition. The teams will follow U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which include limiting saturated fat to less than 10 percent of calories. · Read the entire article.
Featured: FOOD JUSTICE by Gottlieb and Joshi by Chris Smith Englewood Review of Books Published 12/23/2010
Book Review - Offering a broad view of contemporary food issues, Food Justice is a superb introduction to thinking holistically about the food we eat. Although it spares no punches in illuminating the problems in the American food system and how these problems have developed over the last century (or more), it is ultimately hopeful in its belief that we can develop a more just and sustainable food system. · Read the entire article.
Fixing School Lunch by Charles Stuart Platkin WBAY Greenbay Published 12/22/2010
Part two of a two-part interview with Dr. Janet Poppendieck,an expert on school food. She is a sociologist, professor at Hunter College and author of a new book called Free for All: Fixing School Food in America (University of California Press, 2010). · Read the entire article.
Angry About Bad School Lunches? You Can Go Help by Cecily Upton MSN - GOOD Published 12/22/2010
This is not a story about the problem. It is a story about the solution. Because we’ve got to do something – something big – when one in three kids is obese or overweight and their life expectancy is less than that of their parents. Well, put on your Carharts and lace-up your Red Wings, because FoodCorps is coming to town. · Read the entire article.
Smart Choices aims for better nutrition, healthy kids by Jane Lightbourn The Hastings Star-Gazette Published 12/22/2010
Eat healthier, stay healthier. It is a simple message, but one in which Hastings Independent School District 200 has placed a heavy emphasis on this year. · Read the entire article.
Arkansas Schools Try Hands-On Approach At Tackling Childhood Obesity by Kelly MacNeil KUAR FM 89 Published 12/21/2010
A handful of Arkansas schools are at the forefront of a new type of AmeriCorps - that’s the program often described as a domestic peace corps. This new effort sends young workers into communities with high rates of childhood obesity to try to make school lunches healthier. As FM 89’s Kelly Macneil reports, the program could give a boost to locally-grown produce. · Read the entire article.
What's for lunch: Salad bar popular by Cyndy Cole Arizona Daily Sun Published 12/19/2010
It's lunchtime at Marshall Elementary, and the kids have a choice of chicken burgers, veggies and noodles, or turkey sandwiches -- followed by salad, beans, and then a salad bar. · Read the entire article.
Healthy school food may come with a cost by Hailey Persinger San Diego Union-Tribune Published 12/19/2010
Allocating more money toward food services is nothing new for a district that’s made it a priority to become a bastion of nutrient-rich, locally grown public school meals. It pours nearly $55 million of its $1.2 billion annual operating budget into food services. But with new regulations come price points that may seem realistic in Washington, D.C., but aren’t as feasible in San Diego. · Read the entire article.
Five myths about school food by Janet Poppendieck Washington Post Published 12/17/2010
The fight over how and what we feed our kids at school is a complex one; clear thinking about what we need is often hampered by persistent myths. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Benefits All Involved by Michaelle Rehmann Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative Published 12/16/2010
It’s amazing what can happen in 18 months when a group of dedicated people support your work – in this case, getting more locally grown fruits and vegetables to Detroit school children with backing from the Detroit Food & Fitness Collaborative. · Read the entire article.
College to host Iowa's first troop of FoodCorps members Luther College Headlines Published 12/15/2010
The Luther College Environmental Studies Department, with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, will host the first troop of FoodCorps members in Iowa as part of the initiative's 2011 launch. Luther is one of 10 FoodCorps sites selected from 108 applicants. FoodCorps is a new national AmeriCorps program that focuses on service in rural, urban and suburban school food systems that have children challenged with high rates of obesity and limited access to healthy foods. · Read the entire article.
The "How," "What" and "Why" of School Lunch by Charles Stuart Platkin WBAY Greenbay Published 12/15/2010
Part one of a two-part interview with Dr. Janet Poppendieck,an expert on school food. She is a sociologist, professor at Hunter College and author of a new book called Free for All: Fixing School Food in America (University of California Press, 2010). · Read the entire article.
Local School Tests a Program to Serve More Local Produce by Cassandra Morris Montrose Patch Published 12/14/2010
Mountain Avenue Elementary School was the site of a California Farm to School pilot program last week that brought locally grown fruits and vegetables to the school cafeteria's salad bar. · Read the entire article.
School Lunch Victory by Anupama Joshi and Robert Gottlieb Other Words Published 12/13/2010
Thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of people who are working hard to get America's schools to serve healthier food, including First Lady Michelle Obama, the $4.5 billion "Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act 2010" prevailed in the lame-duck session of Congress. The new law marks a key step toward potentially transforming the food served in America's public schools. · Read the entire article.
Fed money could be used to connect farms to schools by Howard Weiss-Tisman Brattleboro Reformer Published 12/11/2010
Farm to school programs across Vermont could receive financial help after the U.S. Congress included money for the programs in the school nutrition bill that passed last week. · Read the entire article.
Congress Prioritizes Farm to School Connection by Lisa Kivirist Hobby Farms Published 12/11/2010
In a part of the bill that provides particular interest to small-scale farmers, Congress also made a first-time investment in farm to school programs, which connect K-12 schools with farmers’ fresh, locally grown food. While grassroots organizations have made laudable efforts over the years to increase fresh, local food in schools, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will provide $40 million of funding to significantly expand farm to school efforts. · Read the entire article.
Congress Prioritizes Farm to School Connection by Lisa Kivirist hobbyfarms.com Published 12/11/2010
If there's one issue that unites all Americans, it's improving the health of our children. Thanks to the collaborative organizing efforts of many grassroots groups advocating for improved children's health, the House joined the Senate in passing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S.B. 3307) on Dec. 2, 2010. The bill now awaits the President's signature. · Read the entire article.
National Farm to School Month Designated Food Safety News Published 12/07/2010
Beginning in 2011, October will be National Farm to School Month. The designation, proposed in H. RES. 1655 and introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), was approved last month by the House of Representatives. The resolution aims to encourage direct farm to school programs nationally, which should in turn bolster local agricultural economies and improve school nutrition, explained Beth Feehan, director of the New Jersey Farm to School Network. · Read the entire article.
Farm to school benefits kids, communities by Stephanie Heim, University of Minnesota Extension The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch Published 12/06/2010
St. Paul, Minn. — A couple of weeks ago I listened to a rural food service director tell a story about a teacher who announced to her students that they would be taking a trip to the country to visit a family farm as part of the district's farm-to-school program. · Read the entire article.
USDA removes major barrier to Michelle Obama’s salad-bar initiative by Ed Bruske Grist Published 12/06/2010
First Lady Michelle Obama announced last week that a new public-private partnership, Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools, would make it possible for as many as 6,000 salad bars to be installed in U.S. · Read the entire article.
Bringing the farm to school by Megan O'Neil Glendale News Press Published 12/03/2010
Nutrition education and healthy lunches have become an increasingly important priority at Glendale Unified in recent years. This week produce, which came from independent farms in Carlsbad, Fillmore, Tehachapi and Goleta, was being served to Mountain Avenue students as part of Farm to School, a two-week pilot program run by the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College. · Read the entire article.
Local food goes to school, but how does it get there? by Nancy Lebens Minnesota Public Radio Published 12/03/2010
A farmer has squash, a school wants to serve it. That's only one part of the logistics involved in getting more locally-grown fresh food to cafeteria trays. A farmer may not have refrigerated trucks to get the produce to schools, or the time to deliver just a part of her harvest across the county. When a farmer decides to scale up, distribution challenges can stand in the way. People active in farm-to-school efforts say that's a big piece of the puzzle. · Read the entire article.
Schools work to bring local food to the cafeteria by Nancy Lebens Minnesota Public Radio News Published 12/03/2010
Shakopee, Minn. — When the Shakopee public schools decided to serve Minnesota-grown pickled beets to some of their 6,500 students, kids needed what food service director Debbie Ross called a little incentive from the school cook. · Read the entire article.
FoodCorps program is coming to Oregon by Leslie Cole The Oregonian Published 12/03/2010
FoodCorps volunteers will work in communities throughout Oregon, identified as having a pressing need in the area of school food systems. Program founders hope it will help slow the nation’s skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and also give young people an avenue into farming. · Read the entire article.
High - Latitude Agriculture; Alaska’s food (in)security by Deirdre Helfferich and Nancy Tarnai Agroborealis (Vol.40, number 1) Published 12/01/2010
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Back to Basics by Joleen Oshiro Honolulu Star Advertiser Published 12/01/2010
At the Grow Hawaii Kick-off event, chefs challenge youth to plant gardens and think fresh, not processed, when it comes to food choices. · Read the entire article.
High-caliber organizations with demonstrated experience implementing Farm to School and school garde UMaine News Published 11/30/2010
oodCorps, a new national AmeriCorps school garden and Farm to School service program, has selected University of Maine Cooperative Extension as one of ten partners to collaborate on a national launch in 2011. FoodCorps will serve vulnerable children, improving access to healthy, affordable food, while training young leaders for careers in food and agriculture. · Read the entire article.
Agriculture Forum: Congress should legislate healthy food for kids by Rob Sirrine and Diane Conners Traverse City Record-Eagle Published 11/27/2010
This bill would help create more Farm to School efforts like Onekama Consolidated School's new program that is now serving fresh, scratch-cooked foods purchased from local farms. Parents were recently invited to sit down with their kids and taste the 23 different items from nine local farms on the menu that day. The result? An increase in kids opting for school lunch and increased opportunity for local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Stick a Fork in It: Pass The Child Nutrition Act by Debra Eschmeyer The Huffington Post Published 11/23/2010
We are preparing for the most thoroughly planned meal in America, and it's not Thanksgiving dinner. It's school lunch. For the last two years, advocates, lobbyists, politicians, and celebrities from Rachael Ray to Michelle Obama have worked to craft a bill that will daily affect the lives of the 31 million children who clamor to the nation's school cafeterias to quell their grumbling bellies. For this bill to pass, over the next few days we the people must prove to our elected officials that the Child Nutrition Act is a national priority. · Read the entire article.
Grateful Gleaning at Organic Farms by Beth Huizenga Novato Patch Published 11/23/2010
Novato school district's Miguel Villareal and Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic and the creator and host of "An Organic Conversation,"have added a new twist to the normal Monday afternoon gleaning by inviting families and children to ride free buses, provided by NUSD, out to the farms to help harvest. The idea was for the kids to learn something about their food, or maybe earn community hours. · Read the entire article.
Stick a Fork in It: Pass The Child Nutrition Act by Debra Eschmeyer Huffington Post Published 11/22/2010
We are preparing for the most thoroughly planned meal in America, and it's not Thanksgiving dinner. It's school lunch. · Read the entire article.
Area students help make own menus by Angela Cina Vernon County Broadcaster Published 11/19/2010
Area schools and school districts are serving locally-grown produce to students at lunchtime. · Read the entire article.
VMS teaching children how to grow what they eat by Angela Cina Vernon County Broadcaster Published 11/19/2010
Fifth-grade students at Viroqua Middle School have the opportunity to be gardeners on school grounds. This year students planted green beans, a variety of herbs, green peppers, three to four different varieties of tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, summer squash, corn, pumpkins and some flowers. · Read the entire article.
Growing pains: Scaling up local food Minnesota Public Radio Published 11/15/2010
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesotans are increasingly interested in eating healthier, supporting local economies and encouraging sustainable living, and, although there has been a local food movement for decades, it's been picking up momentum in recent years. The number of farmers' markets in the state has climbed 60 percent in two years. Food-buying clubs, farm-to-school food programs and the like have increased similarly. · Read the entire article.
Somers, Lakeside school cooks serve up award-winning, healthy options for kids by Vince Devlin Missoulian Published 11/15/2010
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Yamaguchi, Okimoto highlight ‘Grow Hawaii Challenge’ by Joleen Oshiro Honolulu Star-Advertiser Published 11/09/2010
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Battling Childhood Obesity in the Inland Empire by Bettye Miller University of California, Riverside Newsroom Published 11/04/2010
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Nanwalek students harvest food for use in school meals, classes by McKibben Jackinsky Homer News Published 11/03/2010
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School Lunch Reflects Cultural Values by Cynthia Lair Seattle Post-Intelligencer Published 11/02/2010
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Nourish Middle School Curriculum Guide - Free Download by WorldLink and the Center for Ecoliteracy Published 11/01/2010
The Nourish Middle School Curriculum Guide offers a rich set of resources to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability. Beautifully designed and brimming with big ideas, the materials contain a viewing guide, six learning activities, action projects, student handouts, suggested resources, and a glossary · Read the entire article.
Casa on culinary arts by Victoria Webb Argu Courier Published 11/01/2010
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I Believe: 'We have the power to change, improve and reclaim our food systems' by Dana Hudson Burlington Free Press Published 10/31/2010
Individually and collectively we have the power to change, improve and reclaim our food systems. Farm to School shows us that this not only strengthens our health but also our local economy, our environment and our communities. That is a lot of responsibility when you are standing at the store trying to decide between whole local blueberries or artificially flavored blueberry Popsicles. · Read the entire article.
School lunches go local by Chuck Friedbauer Chaska Herald Published 10/30/2010
William Deffaa, a first-grader at Victoria Elementary School, was asked recently why he chose an apple with his lunch. “I like to eat apples,” said Deffaa. As often is the case, choices are simple for children. What William did not know is that apple came from a local Minnesota farmer because District 112 has been providing more locally grown foods in its school lunches this year. · Read the entire article.
Hot Springs students enjoy regionally grown produce Hot Springs Star Published 10/29/2010
A taste of summer returned to school lunch, with locally purchased watermelons featured on Sept. 21 and 22 for all grade levels at Hot Springs Schools through the food service provider, Lunchtime Solutions. The watermelon was obtained from the Andy and Kathy Agers Farm in Spearfish. The Agers will also work with Lunchtime Solutions to develop a planting strategy for next year so to expand the use of their locally grown produce in school lunch programs in Western South Dakota. · Read the entire article.
Farm to school food program News Times Published 10/29/2010
Students at Morris Street School in Danbury toured a produce market right in their own school recently. Sodexo, the food service provider for the Danbury schools, is using more locally grown fruits and vegetables in its lunches and invited one of its produce suppliers, Fresh Point, to set up a presentation for students. · Read the entire article.
Students grow food for their own schools by Stefanie Knowlton Statesman Journal Published 10/29/2010
Three schools in Oregon’s Salem-Keizer School District are expanding their garden programs with the aid of a USDA grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The gardens will supply produce to school cafeterias and serve as science lessons for students. The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, which is overseeing the grant, hopes to expand the project to all the district’s after-school programs. · Read the entire article.
Port Angeles schools roll out new menu Peninsula Daily News Published 10/29/2010
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Far From Lunch Lady Land by Seth Messing Crested Butte News Published 10/29/2010
Just a few years ago, the school's lunch program was nearly eliminated due to lack on interest from staff and students. But many of the ingredients going into the school's cafeteria these days are locally grown or raised, and almost all of the prepared food is made in the kitchen from scratch... ... the school cafeteria sold out of the stew made that morning with locally raised beef, locally grown carrots, onions, and potatoes. The school's baker made fresh focaccia and oatmeal cookies that were a hit with the kids.... Reinventing the School Lunch by Susan Riemer Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Published 10/27/2010
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The Latest on Getting Healthy Munches in School Lunches by Meredith Barnett National Education Association Published 10/21/2010
Mystery meat has left the building. In school lunchrooms across the country, students are filling their cafeteria trays with more fresh produce and award-winning nutritional entrees as schools change the way they approach nutrition. Chefs and community members are coming to the table — bolstered by national initiatives like Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign — giving more school administrators and cafeteria workers the necessary tools to help foster students’ healthy eating habits. · Read the entire article.
USDA ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF FARM-TO-SCHOOL PILOT IN BOISE, IDAHO by USDA news release AgriMarketing Published 10/20/2010
USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton saluted Idaho's efforts to support farm to school programs, a key component of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to help children across America get a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates in the school cafeteria. · Read the entire article.
School garden yields healthy harvest by Matt Bosley Valley News Published 10/20/2010
In its ongoing effort to grow healthy minds and bodies, one local school is growing its own food. Keene Central School has been growing its own organic vegetables, fruits, and spices in a school garden for use in school meals, due largely in part to the efforts of superintendent Cynthia Johnston and cafeteria manager Julie Holbrook. · Read the entire article.
Food for Thought by MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette Published 10/20/2010
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Schools and their Farm to School projects by Chris Kick Farm and Dairy Published 10/19/2010
Five Ohio schools were awarded $2,000 grants through the Ohio Farm to School Initiative. The recipients are Carrollton Extempted Village School District in Carroll County, Garaway Local School District in Tuscarawas County, Marietta City Schools in Washington County, River View Local School District in Coshocton, and Switzerland of Ohio Schools in Monroe, Noble and Belmont counties. · Read the entire article.
Schools team up to bring fresh produce to students by David Heitz Quad-City Times Published 10/18/2010
Nolting, the food service director for the Pleasant Valley School District, has been experimenting with adding farm-fresh produce to the school lunch mix. Pleasant Valley teamed up with the Bettendorf, North Scott, Clinton and Northeast school districts to join the Northeast Iowa Farm to School chapter. Farm to School is a nationwide network that pairs schools with local and regional farmers to obtain high quality fruits and vegetables. · Read the entire article.
Deploying an Army to Fix School Meals by Debra Eschmeyer Zester Daily Published 10/18/2010
Two programs -- school gardens and Farm to School -- are particularly effective, and that's where FoodCorps comes in. Working in school districts suffering disproportionate rates of childhood obesity, FoodCorps service members will build and tend school gardens, conduct nutrition education and facilitate Farm to School programming that brings local, high-quality food into schools. The program will at once serve vulnerable children by improving access to healthy, affordable school meals, while also training a cadre of leaders for careers in food and agriculture. · Read the entire article.
Better Beef, It’s What’s For Lunch? Kids in Four of the Nation’s Largest School Districts Are Served by Ralph Loglisci Center for a Livable Future (blog) Published 10/18/2010
California’s Oakland Unified School District, San Diego Public Schools, Portland Public Schools, and Denver Public Schools receive praise as four FOCUS districts that organized and participated in Better Beef Days by serving sustainably raised beef to students during National School Lunch Week, October 11-15, 2010. · Read the entire article.
In this campaign, politicians out to lunch by David Sarasohn The Oregonian Published 10/16/2010
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OUSD Celebrates School Lunch Week with Better Beef Oakland Local Published 10/15/2010
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Berkeley Center Wants Schools to Rethink Lunch by ALEXA NEMETH Food Safety News Published 10/15/2010
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School lunches in Oceanside district win honor San Diego Union-Tribune Published 10/15/2010
Oceanside Unified School District Food and Nutrition Director Vino Mitro won the grand prize Golden Carrot Award from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) during National School Lunch Week for his work improving the healthfulness of the district’s menus. The PCRM press release lists all of the winners, including Food Service Director Jeffrey Mills of FOCUS district DC Public Schools and Food and Nutrition Services Director Serena Suthers of FOCUS district Prince William County Public Schools. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school efforts take root in two districts by Mitch Lies Capital Press Published 10/14/2010
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School lunch gets healthier hands on by Jeanine Stice Statesman Journal Published 10/14/2010
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FoodCorps Offers Public Service Program for Oxy Students by Sundeep Singh The Occidental Weekly Published 10/13/2010
Initially conceived in 2009 and operational since February of this year, FoodCorps' primary goal is to improve general health in America by spreading awareness of the benefits of maintaining whole, locally sourced diets. FoodCorps is a sub-project of the National Farm to School Network, a program run in part by the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College (within the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute). · Read the entire article.
Long Beach schoolchildren are a model for healthy eating by Mary MacVean Los Angeles Times Published 10/13/2010
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Sodexo Showcases Food Grown and Produced in Oregon with Locally-Sourced Lunch at Salem-Keizer Public PR Newswire Published 10/11/2010
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Presidential Proclamation--National School Lunch Week by President The White House Published 10/08/2010
To provide more fruits, vegetables, and other fresh and nutritious foods for school meals, the USDA is also working to develop farm-to-school partnerships with local farmers, States, localities, tribal authorities, school districts, and community organizations. The USDA Farm to School Team is helping to provide quality foods in school menus, to increase markets for local farms, and to teach young people of all ages about the source of the food they enjoy. To enable school cafeterias across our Nation to prepare these healthy foods, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded the purchase of new food service equipment such as salad bars, and the replacement of aging or outdated appliances such as deep fryers. · Read the entire article.
Students discover taste for locally grown food by Janet Kubat Willette AgriNews Published 10/07/2010
Dover-Eyota Schools celebrated Farm to School Week by inviting their farmers to school. Jerry Kathan of Kathan's Ridgeview Orchards in LaCrescent is one of two farmers who accepted the invitation. · Read the entire article.
South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools Join Farm to School Program NewsDepth | WVIZ/PBS ideastream Published 10/06/2010
The kids in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst school district are eating fresher these days, thanks to their new "Farm to School" program. They celebrated with a special lunch at Greenview Upper Elementary last week. More than two thousand schools in the U.S. participate. They are partnered with Red Basket Farm, a small family-owned farm in Kinsman, Ohio. Students will now eat lettuce that has traveled fifty nine miles, rather than the twenty six hundred miles it currently travels. · Read the entire article.
Oregon observes National School Lunch Week Oregon Department of Agriculture Published 10/06/2010
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Iowa students dig local-food push by Reid Forgrave Des Moines Register Published 10/05/2010
What's happening in Independence illustrates a small but budding local-food movement in Iowa schools. In the past few years, this northeast Iowa district has cooked more lunch items from scratch with healthier ingredients, invited farmers to classrooms to explain where food comes from, and built gardens where students plant and harvest food used in lunches. · Read the entire article.
School garden grows goodness by Fritz Busch The Journal Published 10/03/2010
The Sibley East High School Future Farmers of America organization and local businesses are on board with the growing farm to school movement. A school garden northwest of Arlington produces cantaloupe, pickles, squash, red and white cabbage, onions, pumpkins, yellow, green and purple beans that wind up in school lunch hot dishes, salads, salsa and desserts. · Read the entire article.
From farm to tray by Lilly Chow Minnesota Parent Published 10/01/2010
Whole wheat French bread, edamame, corn on the cob, fresh broccoli, roasted harvest vegetables, baked squash, roasted red potatoes. You wouldn’t expect to find these foods in the cafeteria — much less on school lunch trays — but they are all now regularly served in St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS). Earlier this year, SPPS successfully completed an 18-month pilot program aiming to provide fresh, healthful and locally produced foods to its schools. What’s even better — kids are on the receiving end. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Lunch Program in Jeopardy? by Aricka Flowers Public News Service Published 09/29/2010
Illinois children may soon eat unhealthier lunches at school if Congress fails to re-authorize the Child Nutrition Act by Sept. 30, say advocates. The Farm to School program falls under the Act, which means the link between Illinois farm crops and school lunch tables may soon be broken if it is allowed to expire on Thursday. · Read the entire article.
Local Food Coming to Schools a Small Bite a Time by Angela Dice Kitsap Sun Published 09/29/2010
Washington State’s Bremerton and Bainbridge school districts celebrated Taste Washington Day with locally sourced menu items that were procured with assistance from the Local Farms-Health Kids Act, a state program designed to help schools that have large numbers of low-income students buy produce. · Read the entire article.
Silver Bay schools home to new apple, plum orchard by Jacob Kittilstad and photojournalist Jeff Ernewein Fox 21 News Published 09/29/2010
SILVER BAY, Minn. - Near the football field’s end zone behind William Kelley High and Elementary school, a 60 tree orchard is taking root. "Seven varieties: Honeycrisps and Sweet Sixteens among others. Plus we have ten plum trees that we are planting too,” fifth grade teacher Tom Frericks said. · Read the entire article.
Microfarms offer food from the by Kim Palmer Star Tribune Published 09/28/2010
Vacant land, school yards, even parking lots in the heart of the city are being transformed into farm fields to feed neighbors. These "urban microfarms" are the latest frontier of the local-food movement. · Read the entire article.
Rethinking School Lunch by Eatocracy CNN Published 09/27/2010
Chef Todd Gray is taking on what he describes as "his toughest customers yet" - the students of Washington D.C. public schools. Gray is part of the "Chefs Move to School," a program in search of healthier school meals and pioneered by Assistant White House chef and Senior Policy Adviser For Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. · Read the entire article.
Healthy kids, happy farmers by Megan Boldt Pioneer Press Published 09/25/2010
Program has Twin Cities-area students eating fruits and vegetables from local farms and learning where their food comes from, while local producers find a lucrative new market. · Read the entire article.
School lunch has so many issues to chew on, it by Maureen O Seattle Times Published 09/25/2010
This thoughtful and in depth report on school meals reform shows the complexity of the issues facing food service directors who are trying to improve the quality and healthfulness of school food. FOCUS district Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Director of Nutrition Services Eric Boutin and Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Wendy Weyer contribute. A related article in the Seattle Times looks at several menu items served in SPS and the issues surrounding each one. Boutin and Tricia Kovacs of Washington’s Farm to School Program are featured in a discussion of the challenges to incorporating fresh, local produce into school meals from the Associated Press. · Read the entire article.
School lunch has so many issues to chew on, it by Maureen O Seattle Times Published 09/25/2010
This thoughtful and in depth report on school meals reform shows the complexity of the issues facing food service directors who are trying to improve the quality and healthfulness of school food. FOCUS district Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Director of Nutrition Services Eric Boutin and Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Wendy Weyer contribute. A related article in the Seattle Times looks at several menu items served in SPS and the issues surrounding each one. Boutin and Tricia Kovacs of Washington’s Farm to School Program are featured in a discussion of the challenges to incorporating fresh, local produce into school meals from the Associated Press. · Read the entire article.
From field to cafeteria by By: Ann Bailey
Sept. 19-25 was farm to school week in North Dakota and we received great coverage. · Read the entire article.
From field to cafeteria by Ann Bailey Grand Forks Herald Published 09/24/2010
Sept. 19-25 was farm to school week in North Dakota and we received great coverage. · Read the entire article.
Olympia: School lunches feature Taste Washington Day by John Dodge The News Tribune Published 09/23/2010
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School meals study provides food for thought by Stacy Finz San Francisco Chronicle Published 09/23/2010
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Minnesota Schools "Digging" Their Local Farmers This Week by Sharon Rolenc Public News Service Published 09/22/2010
MINNEAPOLIS - From sporting bib overalls and "I Dig My Farmer" shirts, to corn-shucking contests, to hosting lunch with a local farmer, schools across Minnesota are celebrating Farm to School Week. In addition to teaching children about where their food comes from, Farm to School initiatives play an important role in kids' health, according to JoAnne Berkenkamp, program director for local foods with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). · Read the entire article.
Study shows farm-to-school benefits in Minnesota Minnesota Public Radio News Q Published 09/22/2010
Minneapolis (AP) — New research suggests filling school lunch trays with locally grown foods isn't just good for students' health. It's also good for the local economy. · Read the entire article.
Harvest Comes to Local Schools by K. Browning Delta County Independent Published 09/22/2010
During Harvest Lunch Week ingredients from local farms were used for all lunches in the elementary schools in Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program brings local harvest to lunchroom by Jerome Christenson Winona Daily News Published 09/22/2010
The locavore movement has taken root and is flourishing in the Winona public schools. Instant mashed potatoes, mystery meat, gloppy gravy and government surplus applesauce have been replaced by locally harvested spuds, bison burgers and apples picked fresh from orchards just down the road in Winona School District lunchrooms. · Read the entire article.
Fresh from the farm to the school lunch tray by Fanna Haile-Selassie KTTC Published 09/21/2010
Eyota, MN (KTTC-DT) -- Tomato-cucumber salad, Cheese sandwich on whole wheat toast, and fresh fruit... not necessarily the lunch you may have had when you were eight years old. But that's exactly what kids at Dover-Eyota elementary school are devouring. · Read the entire article.
"Farm to School Week" Gets Local Produce to School by Dan Conradt kaalTV,com Published 09/20/2010
(ABC 6 NEWS) -- In the nation's bread basket, it seems like the perfect combination -- getting us to eat healthier by promoting things we're growing right here. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school program gets kids eating healthy foods by Teri Finneman, INFORUM The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead Published 09/20/2010
At Granville Public Schools, getting kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day with school lunch is a top priority. · Read the entire article.
Farm Fresh Produce Headed to Local Schools by Jack Gates NBC Published 09/20/2010
Farm to School Specialist Vanessa Zajfen and Food Services Director Gary Petill of FOCUS district San Diego Unified discuss plans to incorporate more locally grown foods in the district’s offerings and the program’s goal of procuring 25% of all produce from local sources. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school initiative comes to Sibley East by Tanner Kent The Free Press Published 09/18/2010
ARLINGTON — The Sibley East School District has sprouted its own farm-to-school initiative, a growing fad in Minnesota school lunchrooms. The lunchroom has been a rapidly evolving place in recent years as many schools have looked to reduce the number of high-fat, high-calorie foods with healthier, leaner alternatives. Most schools have now replaced soda pop and sugary drinks in favor of water and sports drinks while others have made simple changes like fruit cocktail packed in a lighter syrup and cooking with whole-grain pastas. · Read the entire article.
Area farmers are linked to school lunch program by Jane Lightbourn The Hastings Star-Gazette Published 09/17/2010
Eating healthy is the goal. More than a year ago, Dakota County schools began a “Smart Choices” initiative (through Dakota County Public Health), designed to support the health of students and staff by creating an environment that encourages healthy food choices. Hastings Independent School District 200 is one of the seven school districts in the county participating in the program. · Read the entire article.
Portland schools ditch nuggets, serve up local food by Michelle Venetucci Harvey Grist Published 09/16/2010
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Back to School Lunch KOIN Local 6 Published 09/16/2010
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Sartell aims to expose kids to local foods through Farm to School program by Dave Aeikens (St. Cloud Times) The Pioneer Press Published 09/16/2010
Students in Sartell-St. Stephen schools today will see fresh, locally grown sweet corn on their lunch menu. It's part of a program the district's food service department uses called Farm to School in which a locally grown vegetable is served monthly. The school district has bought 168 dozen ears of sweet corn from Foley farmer John Svihel. The corn was shucked by students, staff and other volunteers Wednesday and will be steamed and served on the cob today. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School - Hartford County, Maryland by Edwin Remsberg You Tube video clip Published 09/15/2010
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Seven Cents to a Healthier Lunch: Portland Schools Serve up Local Fare by Michelle Venetucci Harvey Sightline Daily Published 09/15/2010
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'Farm to School' foods gain traction at Morris Area Morris SunTribune Published 09/14/2010
Morris Area ag students are working with the district's Food Service in an effort to bring even more local foods to cafeteria menus · Read the entire article.
Farm to School week Winona Radio Published 09/13/2010
Schools throughout Minnesota will showcase fresh, locally grown foods and their relationships with nearby farmers during the first annual Farm to School Week next week, September 20th through the 24th. · Read the entire article.
Bring the Farm to the School by Judi Gerber Care2 Published 09/13/2010
As the school year gets underway, many parents are no doubt dreading the usual barrage of requests to sell fundraising items for their child’s school, most of which are neither healthy, environmentally sound, or even wanted: candy, wrapping paper, and yet another magazine subscription. · Read the entire article.
Helping students learn to make the healthy choices by Jenna Hanson West Central Tribune Published 09/11/2010
Carrot sticks or a cupcake? Without parents reminding them to eat their vegetables, students at Willmar Public Schools can still make healthy eating choices. · Read the entire article.
School district makes healthy foods a priority for kids by John Tierney KATU News Published 09/08/2010
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Controversy brews over chocolate milk by MICHELLE L. KLAMPE and DAYNA STRAEHLEY The Press-Enterprise Published 09/08/2010
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Local Schools Improve Nutrition in School Lunches by Stacia Kalinoski KEZI 9 News - Eugene Published 09/08/2010
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Farm to School program by Chris Butler Idaho Statesman Published 09/03/2010
First lady Lori Otter speaks to fourth graders Thursday to kick off the Farm to School program at Morley Nelson Elementary School. The program promotes the use of local foods in schools and also aims to improve the perception of health, nutrition and quality of school lunch. · Read the entire article.
Kids urged to eat right, keep active by Tina Reed The Capital Published 09/03/2010
Local, state and federal officials squeezed into a small classroom at Southern Middle School with a handful of students Thursday afternoon to talk nutrition, taste test cheese and show off milk mustaches. The students were in Chrissie Hines' family and consumer sciences class, which is meant to teach health and wellness to middle school students. · Read the entire article.
Idaho students reap the harvest KTVB.com Published 09/03/2010
It's harvest time and students in Idaho are reaping the benefits. A pilot program called farm to school is bringing local foods into five school districts. Idaho First Lady Lori Otter helped kick off the program Thursday at Morley Nelson Elementary. · Read the entire article.
First Lady Lori Otter to Kick Off Farm-to-School Program at Local Elementary School Ag Weekly Published 09/02/2010
To kick off the Farm-to-School Program in the Boise School District, First Lady Lori Otter will visit Morley Nelson Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 2 and have lunch with students that will include several Idaho-grown products. · Read the entire article.
Fresh from the farm by Morgan Wall The Mount Airy News Published 09/02/2010
In order to accomplish their goals, child nutrition departments rely on a variety of different programs from the federal and state governments to function on a day-to-day basis. One such program, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farm to School program, helps not only school systems across the state but farmers as well. Since its inception in the 1990s, the Farm to School program has collected produce from North Carolina farmers and delivered it to school systems in a timely manner. · Read the entire article.
Are we on our way to healthy food for kids? Your Call - KALW Public Radio Published 09/02/2010
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Jordan District bringing local fruits and veggies to school lunch by Anne Forester ksl.com Published 09/01/2010
Elementary school students in the Jordan School District got a tasty lesson about local produce Wednesday. The Farm to School program adds fresh fruits and vegetables to school lunch while giving students a chance to learn about where their food comes from. · Read the entire article.
Polk's School Food Lines Have More Healthy Choices by Mycah Pleasant The Ledger Published 09/01/2010
For Polk County students, things might be getting better while, at the same time, getting healthier. By making choices available - such as different kinds of fruit and salads and new twists on old favorites, the district is making strides in improving the quality of school lunches. · Read the entire article.
Improving School Nutrition Education through Farm-to-School Initiatives by Carol Inderieden MIX Published 09/01/2010
One of the more exciting developments in education over the lastfew years is the emergence of a national farm-to-school movement. Many school districts across the country are instituting new health and wellness policies in response to the rising incidence of chronic disease and obesity among school children. The national push to improve diet through farm-to-school initiatives has resulted in the creation of programs that not only promote and support the use of locally produced, sustainably grown food but often include a roster of activities designed to educate children and their families about healthful food choices—everything from special harvest-of-the-month food tastings in the cafeteria to community classes in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. · Read the entire article.
Food Factory Portland’s schools are cooking up plans for healthier lunches by Hanna Neuschwander Portland Monthly Published 09/01/2010
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Crookston to Try Farm To School Program WDAZ Television Published 08/30/2010
Crookston is adopting a national food program to help get fresh foods back in their schools. · Read the entire article.
Washington Student Gardeners Learn, Practice and Inspire Healthy Nutrition Tray Talk - Success Stories Published 08/30/2010
In Auburn School District in Washington State, school lunches include oven roasted veggies like carrots, zucchini, beans, beets, sweet potatoes and kale, as well as fresh plums, pears and watermelon. Much of the produce comes straight from our school garden. We’ve found that there’s nothing like growing a vegetable from a tiny seed to inspire a child give a new fruit or vegetable a try! · Read the entire article.
Local Teacher Publishes Holistic Food Curriculum by Joe Orso LaCrosse Tribune Published 08/29/2010
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Jordan brings in fresh farm produce for school lunch by Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune Published 08/18/2010
South Jordan • Hundreds of kids at South Jordan Elementary school got an unusual treat in the cafeteria on Wednesday — watermelon and cantaloupe freshly plucked from a Green River farm. Jordan School District has launched a “Farm to School” program — the first of its kind in Utah — that aims to support Utah farmers, teach kids about their food supply and enhance school lunch with healthful produce picked at the peak of ripeness. · Read the entire article.
D.C. group gets glimpse of Delmarva’s vegetable industry by Sean Clougherty American Farm Published 08/16/2010
With intentions of making connections that could lead to selling Delaware-grown produce to nearby school systems, a group of people involved the Washington D.C Farm to School program, got a day-long snapshot of Delaware agriculture on Thursday, July 29. The group of about 10 people was organized by Andrea Northup, D.C. Farm to School Network coordinator and David Marvel, a farmer in Harrington, Del., and member of the Mid-Atlantic Farm to School steering committee. · Read the entire article.
New school year sees new paths for learning, health Citizen Times Published 08/16/2010
Some Asheville schoolchildren will be experimenting with uniforms and single-gender classes this year. Meanwhile, a concerted effort is under way to get all students to eat more healthily. The battle against childhood obesity will be joined this fall on more than one front. Local chefs will work with every elementary school in Buncombe County as part of Michele Obama's Chefs Move to Schools program. Western Carolina University students will help implement farm-to-school programs in Jackson County. · Read the entire article.
School Lunch Director Has A Lot On His Plate by Leigh Blander Marblehead Patch Published 08/16/2010
It's a homecoming, of sorts, for Richard Kelleher, the returning food services director for Marblehead schools. He's back on the job, after leaving six years ago to work in Gloucester. And he has some big challenges in Marblehead. Kelleher will buy as much locally-grown produce as possible and work with the Massachusetts Farm-to-School program. · Read the entire article.
SD Unified Working To Make School Lunches Healthier by Maureen Cavanaugh and Hank Crook KPBS News Published 08/16/2010
Chicken fried something, spaghetti and mystery meat used to be hallmarks of school cuisine back in the day. But San Diego Unified School District says those days are no more. · Read the entire article.
Contest for youths to highlight local food by Carrie Ann Knauer Carroll Country Times Published 08/15/2010
Maryland youths have a chance to win an Apple iPod Touch by creating a video on what local food means to them. The Maryland Department of Agriculture contest, which ends Sept. 8, was created as a way to get youths involved in supporting the Maryland's Best program, a marketing initiative that highlights farms and local products throughout the state. Students are encouraged to make a video between 30 seconds and 3 minutes long that reflects how eating locally affects Maryland farmers, the community and themselves. · Read the entire article.
Myrtle Beach area schools, others tackle ABCs of nutrition by Gina Vasselli Myrtle Beach Sun News Published 08/15/2010
The nation's obesity epidemic has a special resonance in the Carolinas, where about 34 percent of children ages 10-17 are considered overweight or obese, according to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. That's almost twice the 18 percent national average for U.S. children ages 12 to 19, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nutritionists, educators, child advocates and child-centered programs, such as the Children's Museum of South Carolina, are trying to reverse that super-sized trend. · Read the entire article.
Upgrades made to food services at schools by Morgan Carlson Jackson County Floridian Published 08/15/2010
Food service for the Jackson County School District Schools will soon be seeing some new, healthier food items served,Jack Noonan, food service director for the district, said in a presentation at a school board workshop Thursday. Jackson County also participates in the New North Florida Cooperative Farm to School Program, in which county farms grow produce that is served in schools. Only a handful of counties in Florida participate in this program. · Read the entire article.
A Natural Choice by Karen Lungu Cañon City Daily Record Published 08/15/2010
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At lunchtime, we need to help our kids get fresh by David Sarasohn The Oregonian Published 08/14/2010
The child nutrition reauthorization act, passed this month by the Senate and working its way through the House, renews about 10 national programs for five years, feeds tens of millions of children (and quite a few adults) and will cost many billions of dollars, including an increase of $5 billion to $8 billion. But when Susan Barker looks at it, she sees 6 cents. · Read the entire article.
Initiative promotes kids healthy eating, local farmers and gardens Crookston Times Published 08/13/2010
Polk County Public Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) along with Crookston Public Schools are embarking on an exciting adventure to bring farm/garden fresh food grown locally into the school through Farm2School. Farm2School initiatives promote healthy eating habits, support neighboring small and mid-sized farmers/gardeners, and build the local economy. Plus, they offer important learning opportunities for students in the cafeteria, and ideally in the classroom and community as well. · Read the entire article.
Area school cooks go back to school by Meredith Hines-Dochterman Gazette Online Published 08/12/2010
Some local school food service staff went back to school early this year to sharpen their cooking skills by attending a 5th Season Workshop hosted by the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative Farm to School program. · Read the entire article.
8 Asheville, Buncombe County schools revamping school lunches Citizen Times Published 08/11/2010
Henderson County apples. Hydroponic lettuce from Madison County. North Carolina-grown sweet potatoes. These aren't menu items at a downtown restaurant. They're some of the fresh, locally grown produce gracing school lunch menus this year. · Read the entire article.
From farm to school by Alycia Kiley New Times Published 08/11/2010
Farm to School is a growing national program that connects students with local farms. School cafeterias serve produce straight from local growers while educating students about agriculture and nutrition, thanks to the program. Moreover, students learn first hand how food is raised by visits to farms and by gardening. · Read the entire article.
Chefs help craft healthier school lunches with local food by Nanci Hellmich USA Today Published 08/11/2010
On his first day on the job as director of food and nutrition for Baltimore City Schools, chef Tony Geraci brought in 40,000 pounds of tree-ripened, Maryland-grown peaches for students. On that day two years ago, he sat in the cafeteria with several second-graders who were eating fresh peaches for the first time in their lives. · Read the entire article.
Field trips, programs teach Asheville-area students about eating healthy outside the school cafeteri by Nanci Bompey Asheville Times Published 08/11/2010
The best lessons about healthy eating can't always be taught in the school cafeteria. Five years ago, Isaac Dickson teacher Susan Shillcock took her class on a field trip to Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview, and the kindergarten and first- and second-grade classes wandered into the okra. The students were soon eating the green vegetables raw. The next day, the class eagerly chowed down on pickled, steamed and fried okra prepared by local chef Laurey Masterton. · Read the entire article.
The Chef Goes Back To School by Marlisa Mills Western North Carolina Woman Published 08/10/2010
See pages 6 through 9 to read about Chef Laurey Masterton and her involvement in healthy food initiatives for schools. · Read the entire article.
Silver Diner club-card plan to help fund school nutrition and fitness programs by Danielle Douglas The Washington Post Published 08/09/2010
Known for greasy burgers and fries, diners are far from synonymous with healthy eating. But Rockville-based Silver Diner has been trying to change that perception, adding low-fat, low-calorie meals to its menu in May. And now, owners Robert Giaimo and Ype Von Hengst have launched "Eat Well, Do Well," an initiative to fund school nutrition and fitness programs to combat childhood obesity. · Read the entire article.
Farm To School Program Part of New Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act by Richard Garcia The Examiner Published 08/09/2010
The Senate passed legislation last week aimed at reducing childhood obesity and strengthening programs dedicated to improving children's' nutrition. The Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act will provide $4.5 billion to improving the National School Lunch Program and establish new national nutritional standards to help children eat healthier foods at school. One part of this bill is the Farm-to-School program which brings local foods into cafeterias and establish school gardens. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Program Seeks Funding Parent Express Published 08/09/2010
Composed of volunteer teachers and parents, plus organizers from Post Oil Solutions Community Food Security Project, the Brattleboro Farm to School Committee recently announced its program will have a full-time coordinator beginning this August to work in all of the town's elementary schools and Brattleboro Area Middle School. · Read the entire article.
Back to school by Suzanne Menges Eastern Arizona Courier Published 08/08/2010
The signs are everywhere: school supplies are on the shelves, backpacks are everywhere, crosswalks are being repainted, and parents seem just a bit relieved. The school year is about to begin. One thing the students and their parents probably aren’t thinking too much about is the school lunch program. It’s taken for granted that students will be able to purchase a nutritious lunch at school. The lunch program in America’s schools is changing, however, thanks to local farmers. · Read the entire article.
NJ looks to use locally grown food in schools MSNBC Published 08/08/2010
The state and a Rutgers University facility in Bridgeton will spend the next year developing innovative ways of integrating New Jersey-grown produce into school food programs. Project officials want to create a wide variety of products- soups, smoothies, salads, fresh-cut fruit and vegetable snacks and possibly vegetable lasagna- by the time the project concludes at the end of 2011. · Read the entire article.
* Home * News Back to School Notes: All Decatur Schools Make AYP, Offer Healthier Food Op by Julie Shimada Decatur News Online Published 08/08/2010
At Renfroe and Decatur High, in addition to the traditional cafeteria line, students can now choose foods from the "Fast ‘n Fresh" section, which includes a salad bar, a sandwich station, and other fast and healthy items. Jennifer Weissman, of the Decatur Farm to School program told Decatur News Online, "Students and teachers are enjoying the new offerings. They like choosing their own salad and sandwich toppings, and we're thrilled to provide new healthy options at lunch time." · Read the entire article.
NH School Food’s Executive Director Shaping Farm to School Programs Nationwide New Haven Public Schools Press Release Published 08/08/2010
Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director of Food Services for New Haven Public Schools has been invited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to attend the inaugural class of Produce Safety University (PSU) August 9-13 to help refine the class before they open it up to other school food service directors. The class will be held at the USDA Training Center in Fredericksburg, VA. The class is being organized and administered by the National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI). All expenses will be paid for by USDA. · Read the entire article.
Senate Votes To Revamp School Lunch Program To Counter Child Obesity And Promote Healthier Meals Senator Patrick Leahy press release Published 08/06/2010
Before ending its summer session, the U.S. Senate on Aug. 5 unanimously approved sweeping changes in the school lunch program, including an expansion of an effort led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to multiply links between local farms and school lunch counters. The bill includes support for Leahy’s Farm to School program, which encourages community-based efforts to link local farms to school lunchrooms. · Read the entire article.
Attention to food safety can open doors by Steve Brown Capital Press Agricultural News Published 08/05/2010
Farmers interested in providing food to schools and other institutions got a look at what's required for Good Agricultural Practices certification during a farm walk July 26. Tricia Kovacs, Farm-to-School Program manager for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said adherence to GAP is not mandatory statewide, "but some schools require third-party audits or certification," she said. Besides training food producers, she said, her program also trains school food nutrition directors about what to expect with direct-purchasing relationships. · Read the entire article.
District augments lunches with local produce by Melissa Kaelin Owatonna Peoples Press Published 08/05/2010
When Owatonna students get a look at the lunch menu this fall, they may feel a bit like fish out of water. The Food and Nutrition Services department will be changing things up at Owatonna schools, adding more than a dozen new recipes to the rotation. The recipes are part of a larger effort by the school district to initiate a Farm to School program in Owatonna cafeterias. The measure would call for fresh, local produce to be distributed to Owatonna schools, then used in recipes for the daily lunch menus. · Read the entire article.
Senate Passes Child Nutrition Bill National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Published 08/05/2010
On Thursday, August 5, the Senate passed a child nutrition program re-authorization bill by unanimous consent. The bill provides a 6-cent per meal increase in school lunch reimbursements, expands school meal eligibility, and establishes stronger nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. It also includes $40 million in mandatory funding for the Farm to School competitive grants program, a measure that NSAC has helped champion. · Read the entire article.
School districts use local farms to serve healthier food by Lindsay Keefer Woodburn Independent Published 08/04/2010
Woodburn and North Marion school districts are joining the Gervais School District in a Farm to School program this year. The program, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also includes Ecotrust and Wellspring Medical Center, introducing the concept of providing local products for school meals. · Read the entire article.
School districts use local farms to serve healthier food by Lindsay Keefer Woodburn Independent Published 08/04/2010
Woodburn and North Marion school districts are joining the Gervais School District in a Farm to School program this year. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School KXNet.com Published 08/04/2010
Getting your children to eat healthful foods isn't always an easy task. But some schools are trying to offer some help. "Farm to School" works to put more local foods on students' lunch trays. Kathie Starkweather with the Center for Rural Affairs says the program is designed to help kids understand where their food comes from and spur the local economy by supporting local farmers and ranchers. · Read the entire article.
Crawford County Farm to School by Charlene Elderkin Viroqua Food Cooperative Published 08/04/2010
The Crawford County Farm to School program is just finishing a farm to schoolsecond successful school year with some significant accomplishments. Food service directors and staff, teachers and parents expanded the program at the Seneca Wauzeka-Steuben and Prairie du Chien School Districts this year with the help of AmeriCorps members, Kathleen Hein and Marty Green. · Read the entire article.
Lions Club plants Farm-to-School garden by Matt Baldwin Whitefish Pilot Published 08/04/2010
The Whitefish Lions Club launched an organic Farm-to-School garden this summer and come harvest time, they expect to have 15,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to donate to local school cafeterias. · Read the entire article.
School board studies MCAII results by Jodelle Greiner The Independent Published 08/03/2010
The Marshall School Board reviewed the results of the MCAII achievement tests taken by students in various grades, and listened to the annual report from Taher Food Service at the regular meeting Monday. One of the programs they will be working to expand is Farm to School, which focuses on using locally grown produce. · Read the entire article.
The Cook’s Warehouse Hosts Second Farm-to-School Cooking Class for School’s Cafeteria Workers Gourmet Retailer Published 08/02/2010
Mary Moore, founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse, a gourmet cookware store and cooking school with three locations in Atlanta, hosted the second Farm-to-School “cooking workshop” for cafeteria workers from the City Schools of Decatur, Georgia, on July 29. The half-day program is designed to teach easy, efficient and inspired cooking to school cafeteria workers. · Read the entire article.
SENCFS Receives $400,000 in Funding for Processing and Distribution Center Tidal Creek Published 08/01/2010
The Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program (SENCFS) is the recipient of two new grants to support a processing and distribution center for limited resource farmers in the region · Read the entire article.
A conversation with Marion Kalb Queens of Green Published 07/31/2010
Marion Kalb, Program Director, National Farm to School talks about the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act and First Lady Michelle Obama. · Read the entire article.
Nourishing Native foods win national cooking competition by Sanra Ritten Indian Country Today Published 07/30/2010
Members from the Tohono O’odham Community Action Youth Cooking Class tantalized the taste buds of the judges in a national cooking competition with Native ingredients from their community, winning them the prestigious contest in Detroit, Mich. in May. The Cooking Up Change competition, part of the Healthy Schools Campaign and the Farm to School program, allows students to actively address the issue of local foods and school nutrition · Read the entire article.
Nourishing Native foods win national cooking competition by Sanra Ritten Indian Country Today Published 07/30/2010
Members from the Tohono O’odham Community Action Youth Cooking Class tantalized the taste buds of the judges in a national cooking competition with Native ingredients from their community, winning them the prestigious contest in Detroit, Mich. in May. The Cooking Up Change competition, part of the Healthy Schools Campaign and the Farm to School program, allows students to actively address the issue of local foods and school nutrition · Read the entire article.
The Sweet Corn? Grown Right Over There by Tammy La Gorce The New York Times Published 07/30/2010
“My goal has been to help keep the Garden State the Garden State,” said Mikey Azzara, who founded Zone 7, named for New Jersey’s location on the Agriculture Department’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map. “Why is it easier to get stuff from all over the world than it is to get stuff from a New Jersey farmer to a New Jersey restaurant? I saw this as an important nut to crack.” · Read the entire article.
A bumper crop of goodness by Heather Huwe, Intern Reporter Alexandria Echo Press Published 07/30/2010
They’re called “community gardens.” And at two local schools, they’re producing a bumper crop of goodness – excited students, a new way of learning, healthy meals for hungry families, new partnerships and more. · Read the entire article.
School District & Farmers Team Up Up North Live Published 07/29/2010
Cutting the fat from a food budget isn't always easy to do, but some local school districts are teaming up with area farmers to get more for less. · Read the entire article.
Lentz shares love of organic foods with community by Krystle Dunham Chelsea Standard Published 07/28/2010
Deb Lentz’s mission is to provide her community with fresh organic fruits and vegetables. And she is hoping that she can get residents of all ages to develop a love for organic produce. · Read the entire article.
Local legislators praise school nutrition bill Boston Globe Published 07/27/2010
The Massachusetts Legislature today passed legislation that would ban the sale of unhealthy foods and drinks in Massachusetts public schools. The bill also includes a provision for preferential purchasing for products grown in Massachusetts and instructs the Department of Agriculture to collect data to facilitate the process of local farms and public schools doing business together. · Read the entire article.
Filling the GAP to Potential New Markets Washington State University News Published 07/27/2010
When the Washington State Legislature passed the Local Farms-Healthy Kids Act in 2008, it opened a potential new market for local fruit and vegetable producers. The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Farm-to-School Program is working to build partnerships to enable local growers to take advantage of not only the local school market but also opportunities to provide produce to other institutions. According to WSDA Farm-to-School Program coordinator Tricia Sexton Kovacs, one major step that local producers can take toward taking advantage of those markets is to submit their operations to Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices audits. · Read the entire article.
Mock Good Agricultural Practices Audit Food Safety News Published 07/26/2010
The organic farm at Washington State University's Puyallup Research and Extension Center will be the subject of a mock Good Agricultural Practices audit, and farmers are invited to participate. The audit will be conducted as part of the Tilth Producers and WSU Small Farms Program farm walk at the facility on Monday, July 26, from 12:30 to 4 pm. It is free and no advance registration is required. The farm walk audit is a joint project with the Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm-to-School Program. · Read the entire article.
Kittery school has nation's best by Charles McMahon Seacoast Online Published 07/26/2010
Cheryl Dixon, food service manager at Horace Mitchell Primary School, has had quite the summer. Dixon was honored for her work teaching good nutrition and promoting lifelong healthy eating habits among the students at Mitchell School. · Read the entire article.
Campaign encourages putting 10% of food spending toward local foods by Stacie Greene Hidek Star News Published 07/26/2010
The Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program joins the Center for Environmental Farming Systems for the 10% Campaign, which encourages consumers to spend 10 percent of their food spending on foods produced in North Carolina. The campaign aims to create jobs, boost the viability of North Carolina farms and fisheries, and promote healthy communities. · Read the entire article.
Hazelton bringing local food to school children by Lauren Donovan Bismarck Tribune Published 07/25/2010
Ted Ranschler’s homegrown “strawberry” rhubarb will go into nutritious foods for schoolchildren starting this fall. He lives across from the school at Hazelton and donated his produce, which the school cooks estimate would have otherwise have cost $44. Not only is it free, it’s locally grown. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Network practitioners to visit Kansas City by Alison Reber Kansas City Environmental News Examiner Published 07/24/2010
Farm to School connects schools (K-12) 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 local and regional farmers. · Read the entire article.
Field trips teach local children about food, farming and nutrition Times-Standard Published 07/22/2010
Locally Delicious, a pending nonprofit group taking its name from a local cookbook, joined with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers recently, donating $400 each to ensure kids can visit a working farm this summer. The program, titled “Farm to School,” is run out of the Humboldt County Office of Education. · Read the entire article.
Valley View has new raised beds by Laura Roady Bonner's Ferry Herald Published 07/22/2010
Valley View Elementary students will notice a major change when they return to school this fall. Where there once was a lawn of grass, there now stands raised beds and a tilled area for cover crops. These are the first visible signs of the Boundary County School District’s Community Kitchen and School Farm Project. The goal is to have a sustainable program that supplies the schools with local food. · Read the entire article.
Better food for Northern Colorado by Nick Childs Rocky Mountain Collegian Published 07/21/2010
A team, comprised of a mixture of CSU faculty and students, is conducting research to assess all aspects of food in Northern Colorado. This “interactive” program looks at all aspects of food, said Thilmany McFadden, CSU coordinator for the Northern Colorado Regional Food Assessment Project. They gather information about the land and water used in production, the food retailers and nutrition issues involved with food in Northern Colorado. · Read the entire article.
'Sprouting healthy kids' goal of July 27 Farm to School program in Kansas City by Bill McKelvey University of Missouri Extension News Published 07/21/2010
“Sprouting Healthy Kids” will be the goal of a Farm to School program set for July 27 at the Kansas City Academy. The Farm to School initiative is a national effort to connect K-12 schools with regional or local farms to serve healthy meals using locally produced foods. · Read the entire article.
Summer camp teaches kids about where food comes from by John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings Published 07/21/2010
As elementary school-age children in a summer camp at Rogue Valley Brambles farm paint a chicken coop with scenes of trees, houses and airplanes Tuesday, owner Susan Muller assures them that the chickens will be a lot happier to live in it and lay eggs. The children have just fed and watered the chicks, given them pet names and checked to make sure they're getting both sun and shade and that their fence is secure. · Read the entire article.
Farm experts tout virtues of fresh vegetables Heartland News Published 07/21/2010
Kentucky Department of Agriculture experts are stressing the importance of serving farm-fresh products to kids in schools across the state. That's being done in a "Farm to School Summit" on Wednesday in Lexington. · Read the entire article.
Chicago Public Schools Will Contract $500,000 in Illinois Produce Prairie Farmer Published 07/20/2010
Family Farmed.org is partnering with Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, the major food service provider for the Chicago Public Schools, to ask Illinois farmers to contract for $500,000 of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. This will be in addition to the $1.8 million in local farm products they purchased last year from growers in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. This will take CPS regional procurement of fruits and vegetables to $2.3 million for the 2010-11 school year. · Read the entire article.
Kentucky Proud aiming at schools Lexington-Herald Leader Published 07/20/2010
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is hosting its first Farm to School Summit on Wednesday as part of an effort to education food service directors about using Kentucky products. · Read the entire article.
Kentucky Department of Agriculture employees to speak at Farm to School Summit Kentucky Ag News Published 07/20/2010
Kentucky Department of Agriculture experts are scheduled to share their knowledge at the first-ever Farm to School Summit Wednesday in Lexington. “Our goal is to bring the freshness and high quality of Kentucky Proud products into our schools,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “The Farm to School Program enables Kentucky kids to grow into healthy adults who understand the importance of knowing what’s in their food and where it comes from.” · Read the entire article.
Gov. Quinn Signs Local Food Laws To Benefit Low Income Families, Schools Chicagoist Published 07/20/2010
Gov. Quinn signed into law Saturday two new pieces of legislation aimed at making it easier for low income families and schools to obtain local food. · Read the entire article.
Facebook YouTube Twitter Get Email Updates Contact Veterans' Webpage Economic Recovery P Congresswoman Pingree Press Release Published 07/20/2010
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that she has introduced the Eat Local Foods Act to help schools provide healthier meals for their students while supporting local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Schools plan to serve fresh produce in effort to curb childhood obesity by Keith Uhlig Wausau Daily Herald Published 07/20/2010
Three local elementary schools will serve fresh vegetables and fruit snacks next school year as part of a federal program intended to curb childhood obesity. · Read the entire article.
NJDA, Rutgers Receive Federal Grant for Farm to School Project New Jersey Department of Agriculture Published 07/19/2010
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton, has been awarded $51,215 to create new food items derived from New Jersey agricultural products for use in the National School Lunch Program. · Read the entire article.
Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality increases buy from local farms program to over $2 million Food CEO Published 07/18/2010
Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, the major food service provider for Chicago Public Schools, is asking Illinois farmers to contract for $500,000 of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables in addition to the $1.8 million in local farm products purchased last year. “We want apples, peaches pears, broccoli, beans, potatoes and other fruits and vegetables grown by Illinois farmers to serve nearly 305,000 students in 481 schools every day,” said Bob Bloomer, regional vice president for Chartwells-Thompson. “This is good for local farmers and great for Chicago students.” · Read the entire article.
Quinn signs laws promoting local food by Ted Gregory Chicago Tribune Published 07/17/2010
At the state's longest-running farmers market on Saturday, Gov. Pat Quinn authorized legislation aimed at making it easier for schools and low-income consumers to obtain locally-grown food. The Farm-to-School database will create an electronic database on the state Department of Agriculture Web site that allows schools and local farmers to connect on the purchase of fresh produce. The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Act makes it easier for sellers at the markets to accept Link cards, state-issued debit cards for food stamp recipients. · Read the entire article.
Schools learning to cook from scratch by Marjorie Hernandez Ventura County Star Published 07/16/2010
Some local school districts plan to shed the stigma of cafeteria food by revamping their menus and offering a variety of healthier fare in the coming school year, while others are taking it a step further by ditching packaged foods and reviving cooking from scratch. State education officials are working closely with school districts like Ventura Unified and Santa Cruz City Schools that are already using the “Farm to School” model and adding scratch cooking to their daily cafeteria menus. · Read the entire article.
House committee passes 'Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act' by Krista Simmons LA Times Published 07/16/2010
On Thursday the "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act" was passed by the House Education and Labor Committee, bringing the nation's kids one bite closer to the possibility of more nutritious meals. · Read the entire article.
Child Nutrition with Farm to School Passes House Committee National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Published 07/15/2010
On Thursday, July 15, the House Education and Labor Committee approved the child nutrition reauthorization bill authored by Chairman George Miller (D-CA) (Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, H.R. 5504) by a vote of 32 -13 with Republicans Todd Platts (PA), Michael Castle (DE), and Vernon Ehlers (MI) joining all of the Democratic members of the committee in supporting the bill. The bill includes $50 million in mandatory funding over five years for farm to school programs nationwide and incorporates language very similar to Rep. Rush Holt’s (D-NJ) Farm to School Improvements Act that NSAC strongly supports. · Read the entire article.
Summer Lunch Program Features Farm to School Activities by Aubree Durfey Community Food Co-op Published 07/15/2010
Where does your food come from? Local school-aged kids participating in the Summer Lunch Program, sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, will be exploring answers to this question in the upcoming weeks. Volunteers of Gallatin Valley Farm to School (GVF2S) will be leading the children in Farm to School activities such as making butter, planting a bucket garden and exploring the BOB (the Bozone Ozone Bus) – a mobile greenhouse bus created by the Bozeman Youth Initiative. · Read the entire article.
Will school lunch items come from your local farms? by Peter Graham Morrison County Record Published 07/15/2010
The United States Department of Agriculture, through the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CREES), is funding a coalition of school districts and farmers from four states that are participating in a program called "From Farm to School: Improving Small Farm Viability and School Meals." So far, the program has functioned well in the four urban states, but it could be coming to a school near you-if Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has his way. · Read the entire article.
Holt Farm to School Initiative Advances Through House Committee Representative Rush Holt Newsroom Published 07/15/2010
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Senate Committee Adopts Ag Spending Bill National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Published 07/15/2010
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Direct marketing from the farm Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch Published 07/14/2010
Direct marketing from the farm will be the topic for a July 20th field day walk-n-talk held at Seven Story Farm from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Marketing fresh, locally produced food directly to consumers, restaurants, and institutions is a rapidly expanding opportunity. Join Rural Advantage and partners to learn about farm to school opportunities, CSA marketing, and selling directly off the farm. · Read the entire article.
Briefing addresses methods to combat growing prediabetes incidence Endocrine Today Published 07/14/2010
Julie Paradis, administrator for food and nutrition services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, outlined the agency’s current and future efforts. She said the passing of a robust childhood nutrition act is needed to improve the health and well-being of U.S. youth. She discussed several soon-to-be-implemented improvements in school nutrition, including the reduction of barriers preventing children from participating in nutrition programs; improving meal quality; increasing school reimbursement; expanding direct certification to make more children eligible for free or reduced-price meals; diversifying school breakfast and summer food service programs; providing school meal report card to parents to help them guide their child’s food choices; and forging a stronger farm-to-school link to help local produce providers. · Read the entire article.
Peach Crest Farm has impact on county by Ezra Mann Pauls Valley Daily Democrat Published 07/14/2010
Many people who go to their local market these days may never have an idea of where the produce they buy comes from. However, pick up a piece of squash or peach over the summer at a grocery store and you may be enjoying the fruits of labor from Peach Crest Farm in Stratford, according to George Driever, farm manager · Read the entire article.
Columbia Public Schools adding more variety to school lunches by Hannah Wiese Columbia Missourian Published 07/14/2010
Columbia Public Schools is participating in Farm to School, a program that brings in locally grown produce in for lunches. “It is something that we thought was a next step for Columbia Public Schools in the growing trends for the desire to know where our food is coming from,” said Laina Fullum, the district's nutrition director. “Kids need more opportunities to be better connected to Missouri land and what is produced here in our state.” · Read the entire article.
Grant will bring local food to districts Record-Eagle Published 07/13/2010
A federal farm grant will help expand use of locally grown foods at schools in two area counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a $60,000 rural development grant for a Farm to School program for Frankfort-Elberta Area School District, Onekama Consolidated Schools and other districts in Benzie and Manistee counties. · Read the entire article.
USDA Announces Recovery Act Efforts Aimed at Creating Jobs, Supporting Local and Regional Food Syste USDA Newsroom Published 07/13/2010
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced Recovery Act investments for 11 businesses in 9 states to strengthen rural economies by supporting local and regional food systems. "Our farmers are the most productive in the world, supplying much of the nation's food, and in so doing, are creating the create jobs that are necessary to strengthen our economy," said Vilsack. "By connecting farmers and ranchers more closely with consumers of food, we are creating new economic opportunities for producers and helping consumers to access healthy, nutritious food." · Read the entire article.
U of M recognizes farm families of year UM News Published 07/13/2010
"Almost all Minnesota farms are family farms," said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. "These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota's economy and the vitality of Minnesota's rural communities. The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contribution to agriculture and their communities." · Read the entire article.
SNA Conference Opens with Guest from The White House by Bill Bailey The Food Channel Published 07/12/2010
Chef Geraci talked about his experience with the Farm to School program. “It’s so important to connect kids to the origins of food,” Geraci said. In his Baltimore program he has students that plant, grow, harvest, cook and serve foods from a garden at Great Kids Farm. · Read the entire article.
5 Neb. nonprofits get $272,000 in USDA funding BusinessWeek Published 07/12/2010
Five Nebraska nonprofits have been awarded $272,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The money from USDA Rural Development will support business development and entrepreneurship. Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society will get $99,000 to train food producers through the Farm to School program. · Read the entire article.
Columbia 'urban homesteaders' work to live self-sufficiently by Theresa Berens Columbia Missourian Published 07/12/2010
Charlie Triplett describes his childhood experiences with gardening as unpleasant. Although his father, a truck driver, insisted on planting an enormous plot every year, he and his mother were less passionate about the weeding and upkeep. Triplett no longer has to worry about weeding. He and his wife, Annette, try to grow as much of their own food as possible in raised garden beds on their urban homestead, a block off Broadway in the Old Southwest neighborhood. · Read the entire article.
Brattleboro Food Co-op’s Education Outreach Program supports Farm to School projects Commons News Published 07/12/2010
This summer, education outreach coordinators from the Brattleboro Food Co-op are involved with a variety of programs that have grown from Farm to School initiatives. These collaborative projects are providing learning opportunities on gardening and healthy food for youth in our community. The Co-op provides free nutrition education programs like these as a part of their community outreach effort. · Read the entire article.
Momentum starts on new CREST farm by Cliff Newell West Linn Tidings Published 07/08/2010
Bob Carlson is starting small with the new CREST Farm to School program. But some day it will be big – producing food for all 13 schools in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. · Read the entire article.
Area students help make own menus by Angela Cina Vernon Broadcaster Published 07/08/2010
Students who eat hot lunch at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School in Viroqua have helped grow the produce on their plates. Organic hot lunch has been served at the school for seven years. For the past four years, the menu has included vegetables grown in the school garden behind The Flower Basket. Menu items not grown in the garden are purchased local · Read the entire article.
Putting farm food on the plate HeraldNet Published 07/07/2010
The state Department of Agriculture and the Washington School Nutrition Association are asking local farmers to participate in the state Farm-to-School program’s “Taste Washington Day” on Sept. 29. · Read the entire article.
More opportunities to eat fresh by Emily Christensen WCF Courier Published 07/06/2010
The cafeteria was empty. The kids all gone for the summer. But inside the Independence High School kitchen Kelly Crossley, the district's food service director, was surrounded by a growing mound of strawberries. Cardboard cartons of the fruit were stashed in the cooler, on the countertops and still more were coming through the door. · Read the entire article.
King County program serves up a feast of healthful eating by Maureen O'Hagan The Seattle Times Published 07/06/2010
"It's always amazing how we always have enough food, and it comes out pretty good," said Cristina Orbe, program manager at FEEST, which stands for Food Education Empowerment and Sustainability Team. The free drop-in program — with a budget of about $50,000, courtesy of the King County Food and Fitness Initiative — teaches young people about cooking and healthful eating. All the meals are centered on vegetables, with a little bit of meat thrown in occasionally. · Read the entire article.
Groups Outline Vision For Michigan Fresh Food by David Runk Chicago Tribune Published 07/05/2010
A number of groups that want to find ways to increase the availability of fresh, healthy food across Michigan and spur economic growth have offered a 10-year vision for making that happen. The recently released Michigan Good Food Charter outlines a series of priorities to help leverage the state's already diverse agricultural production system and respond to demand for locally grown food. · Read the entire article.
Groups outline 10-year vision for Mich. fresh food by David Runk Chicago Tribune Published 07/05/2010
A number of groups that want to find ways to increase the availability of fresh, healthy food across Michigan and spur economic growth have offered a 10-year vision for making that happen. The recently released Michigan Good Food Charter outlines a series of priorities to help leverage the state's already diverse agricultural production system and respond to demand for locally grown food. · Read the entire article.
Celebrity Chef and Army General Urge Congress to Fix School Lunch by Christine Binder Slow Food USA Published 07/04/2010
Most of the legislators present for a hearing on the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 seemed in favor of implementing Farm to School programs and removing junk food from schools. Those are great steps forward, but they’re only partial victories if the Child Nutrition Bill doesn’t receive full funding. Right now, the National School Lunch Program leaves schools with about $1.00 for each meal’s ingredients. This bill would add six cents – not enough to give every child access to a healthy meal. · Read the entire article.
Biography Committee Assignments Economy Education Energy Environment Foreign Affairs Health Care Ho Rep. Rush Holt Press Release Published 07/02/2010
The House Committee on Education and Labor yesterday held a hearing on the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, which would improve the quality of school meals and other child nutrition programs for 32 million children. This legislation contains an initiative written by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) to require $10 billion in funding for farm to school programs. · Read the entire article.
Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society receives grant to do Farm-to-School Project Healthy Farms Nebraska Published 07/02/2010
Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, Inc (NSAS) of Hartington will utilize $99,000 to provide technical assistance and training for local food businesses and producers in six counties through participation in the Farm to School Pilot Program to sell locally grown food to area schools. The project will create/save 13 jobs. NSAS will partner with the University of Nebraska Department of Nutrition and Health Services, the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative and the Nebraska Local Food Network. · Read the entire article.
School Nutrition Improving Through Decatur Farm to School Initiative by Julie Shimada Decatur News Online Published 06/29/2010
Over the past school year, the Decatur Farm to School Initiative began to make an impact in the diets and the lives of children in the community. The grassroots organization, started by parents, teachers, and school administrators to bring healthy foods into the City Schools of Decatur nutrition program, also teaches students about nutrition and how to care for a garden. · Read the entire article.
Push for more local food in schools by Shir Haberman Seacoast Online Published 06/29/2010
Members of the North Hampton Agricultural Commission, the School Board and administrators in SAU 21 are attempting to make some headway on the issue of increased cost for better school food and training lunchroom staff in how to prepare healthier food. · Read the entire article.
Bringing kids to the land, and good food to the table by Bella English The Boston Globe Published 06/27/2010
“The local food movement is about bringing good, nutritious food to all despite the income,’’ says Katherine Sims, who was in Milton last weekend for a fund-raiser. The program draws a third of its budget from individual and corporate donations, a third from grants and foundations, and a third from the schools. Another component of the program is getting produce from local farms into the schools, which benefits both the farmers and the children, who, she says, suffer from “nature deficit disorder.’’ · Read the entire article.
Kentucky Agriculture Department program promotes more locally-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and foo Kentucky Department of Agriculture Published 06/27/2010
The numbers are sobering: only 13.2 percent of Kentucky’s youth eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day, compared with the national average of 21.4 percent; 40.5 percent of Kentucky students drink one or more soft drinks per day, compared with the national average of 33.8 percent. · Read the entire article.
Washington Gov. signs food reporting order Natural Resource Report Published 06/25/2010
A coalition of farmers, children’s health advocates, environmentalists, and anti-hunger advocates applauded the Executive Order issued today by Governor Gregoire at the Food Systems Strategies Summit. Executive Order 10-02 brings together agencies and community partners to coordinate their work and increase collaboration to strengthen our state’s food system. · Read the entire article.
Filling their plates locally by Deb Gau The Independent Published 06/24/2010
It's not hard to get people interested in eating locally in greater Minnesota, Stephanie Heim said. Bringing locally-grown foods into the schools is another idea that clicks, because it's a good deal for farmers and kids alike. "People get that it's a new, steady market for farmers," said Heim, coordinator of the University of Minnesota Extension's Farm to School initiative. Students also get the chance to develop healthy eating habits and learn where their food comes from. · Read the entire article.
Growing local by Lindsey Cook The Wire Published 06/24/2010
A report from the newly christened food Solutions New England details the economic impact of the local food system and its prospects for growth. · Read the entire article.
Fundraiser to support schools, businesses by Nicole Strittmater Wausau Daily Herald Published 06/21/2010
This fall, elementary students in Stevens Point will sell local food and locally made products to raise money for their schools while also supporting farms and businesses. · Read the entire article.
Vergennes education takes root in school garden by Erin Cummings Addison County Independent Published 06/21/2010
As Lisa Sprague enters a classroom at Vergennes Union Elementary School carrying a bundle of freshly harvested vegetables, she is confronted with a throng of students hoping to help her do whatever is necessary to make the food ready to eat. VUES started its garden last year after the school received a $14,000 grant from the Farm-to-School program, led by Vermont Food Education Every Day, a nonprofit collaborative project of the Food Works, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and Shelburne Farms. Its goal is to teach students about their food, where it comes from, and how choices they make regarding food can effect their lives and their environment. · Read the entire article.
'Farm To School Week' Measure Approved By Assembly by Gita Bajaj Politicker NJ Published 06/21/2010
Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon to declare a 'Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week' was unanimously approved Monday by the Assembly. Under the measure (A-2854), events would be planned in schools throughout the state for a week in September to promote the value and importance of New Jersey's agriculture and fresh farm food for children. · Read the entire article.
conversation about Farm to School and school gardens KLCC Published 06/19/2010
KLCC's Food for Thought hosts speak with Megan Kemple with the Farm to School Program and Jared Pruch of the School Garden Project Food Grown for Kids, by Kids Could Become Staple of Kitsap Lunch Rooms by Marietta Nelson Kitsap Sun Published 06/18/2010
As the local food movement grows, schoolyard gardens are becoming nearly as ubiquitous in Washington public schools as, well, standardized tests. So it only makes sense that some of the homegrown grub makes it on to the lunch line. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school food programs focus of meeting The Forum Published 06/18/2010
A workshop to connect school lunch programs with the food produced by local farmers is scheduled Tuesday in Valley City. “We want food-service directors, farmers, community members and interested individuals to take part in this workshop to bring healthy, local foods to schoolchildren across our state and to teach them the fundamentals of good nutrition,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a news release. “Farm-to-school programs provide our children with healthy food choices, while creating economic opportunities for local farmers.” · Read the entire article.
Ridgeway cultivates farm-to-school program by Janet Kubat Willette AgriNews Published 06/17/2010
It was the second-to-the-last day of school and excited elementary students worked in the school garden. First grader Julia Maynard displayed the plum purple radishes just picked from the garden and set to be served on the last day of school by garden club students. · Read the entire article.
Bringing Back Locally Grown Produce Organic Connections Published 06/16/2010
Lately there has been tremendous attention on the food being fed to children in schools, as it shapes their bodily health and dietary habits for the future. Ecotrust’s Food & Farms program has taken on this problem quite seriously, with an eye to sourcing school food locally as well. “The sky’s the limit, I have to say, with regard to the farm-to-school initiative,” Kane said. “We got involved with it four or five years ago in the large public school district of Portland. The district consists of about 82 different schools and serves around 20,000 meals a day.” · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school project gets tons of strawberries to children by Debbie Arrington The Sacramento Bee Published 06/16/2010
The "eat local" movement has gone to school. Two healthy-living initiatives converged in Sacramento strawberry fields and school cafeterias last spring. Under an innovative new program, strawberries grown by local small family farms were rushed to local school cafeterias, supplying children with healthy fresh fruit – often the same day they were picked. · Read the entire article.
Kickapoo Harvest Gleaning for Healthy Communities begins second year Westby Times Published 06/16/2010
“Kickapoo Harvest: Gleaning for Healthy Communities” is a grass-roots initiative aimed at getting healthy, locally produced food into the hands and mouths of those who need it most. This project is funded through the support of the Viroqua Food Co-op, the Viroqua Public Schools Farm to School Program and the Coulee Region Cooperative Community Fund. · Read the entire article.
Perspective: A farm-to-cafeteria program in Jefferson County The Leader Published 06/16/2010
What is a farm-to-cafeteria program and why is it important for our community? It means serving locally grown foods in institutions; including schools, hospitals and senior centers. It means providing better tasting and more nutritious food that’s freshly picked and often organically grown. It means creating new markets for small farmers who struggle with overhead costs, high land values, yet don’t qualify for government subsidies. It means growing school gardens, offering hands-on education in science, math, environment, nutrition and health. The farm-to-cafeteria movement is growing and has expanded to almost 9,000 schools around the U.S. in the last few years. · Read the entire article.
Merrigan on Farm to School program by Beverley Kreul Brownfield Ag News Published 06/16/2010
The USDA is increasing its efforts to educate students about where their food comes from through the agency’s Farm to School educational program. USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says educating youth is the first step to educating the public. “Bringing it all together at that young age, so kids understand that food really doesn’t come from a grocery store, there is this connection to rural America that at a very young age is strong and that will then when they grow up will make a difference to them as voters and make a difference to where they decide to settle families,” said Merrigan. · Listen to the recording · Read the entire article.
Farm to School: CSD EDtv Published 06/16/2010
· Watch the video · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-School Program in the Bellingham School District SchoolTube Published 06/16/2010
A video following Fairhaven students/volunteers in their efforts for fresh farm food in the cafeteria and afterschool. · Read the entire article.
Vegetables are getting their time in the sun by Kathleen Vinehout Jackson County Chronicle Published 06/16/2010
As I drive through our Senate district, it seems like everyone has a garden. The wet weather has made the plants flourish. And even though finishing the hay crop has been a challenge, pulling weeds is a lot easier, if you don’t mind the mud. · Read the entire article.
Kentucky students take charge by setting up school salad bar by Tim Thornberry Farm World Published 06/16/2010
School lunches have changed in many ways over the last several years with more emphasis being placed on healthier food choices. With that in mind, a group of health sciences students from the Harrodsburg Area Technology Center’s (ATC) Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter initiated a project to give their fellow students at Mercer County Senior High a healthy choice for their lunches. “Using locally-grown produce in school meals is something our organization encourages since kids get a great-tasting product, the time from harvest to table is shortened and keeping food dollars local helps promote agricultural economic development,” John Cain, state co-chair of Kentucky Action for Healthy Kids, said. “Also, kids are more likely to eat their fruits and veggies if they know where it comes from - something that we hope will cut down on childhood obesity.” He added that the salad bar, by including those locally-grown items, gave the project a farm-to-school element which is very timely as there is a current movement at the state level in Kentucky to expand the Farm-to-School program. · Read the entire article.
A recipe for healthier kids more important now than ever by Elisha Greeley Smith Farm & Ranch Guide Published 06/16/2010
Two-thirds of school children eat a National School Lunch Program lunch, consuming one-third of their total daily calories from that meal. The food in that meal travels between 2500 and 4000 miles before reaching their plates. To make matters worse, over 25 percent of North Dakota children age 10 to 17 are either overweight or obese, according to a 2007 study compiled by the National Survey of Children's Health. The importance of Farm-to-School initiatives could not be clearer. Farm-to-School efforts provide healthy food choices for children, while creating economic opportunities for local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Connecting North Dakota Farmers with Schools Public News Service Published 06/15/2010
The Center for Rural Affairs, along with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the National Farm to School Network, are partnering to hold a workshop later this month in Valley City to teach local school officials how to take advantage of local producers for food products. John Crabtree, spokesman for the Center, says there is a double purpose. "The idea is obviously to make our kids' school lunches more nutritious, but to also create economic opportunities for local farmers to provide produce and things like that directly to school kitchens." · Read the entire article.
Today’s Topic: Farm to School Program In The Field Published 06/15/2010
School is out across North Carolina, and it ended on a high note for the N.C. Farm to School Program. School systems purchased a record $800,000 worth of North Carolina commodities during the 2009-2010 school year. That’s $100,000 more than 2008-2009. Listen in as Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler and the Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison talk about the success of this program. · Read the entire article.
School Lunch Program Uses Local Ingredients InsideMedford.com Published 06/15/2010
Medford School Food Services, students from Tufts University’s Tisch Scholar program, consultants from the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, Medford parents and children, community members, and others gathered together on Friday, June 11 to enjoy a dinner composed of local ingredients to launch Medford’s Farm-to-School Initiative. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program posts a record-setting year North Carolina Agricultural Review Published 06/14/2010
With increased orders for North Carolina strawberries and blueberries, the N.C. Farm to School Program will end the year with a new record for school sales of North Carolina commodities. “It is great to end the year not only with record sales of strawberries and blueberries, but also the yearly record sales for the Farm to School program. In the end, our students and our farmers are the big winners,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Each year the program grows as word spreads about the healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables being offered." · Read the entire article.
Michelle Obama's push to cut kids' obesity by Neil Peirce Denver Post Published 06/14/2010
Can we really slim down the next generation of Americans, help our school children shed the extra pounds that could spell lifetimes with high prospects of type 2 diabetes or heart problems? Michelle Obama is trying hard to reach parents with her "Let's Move" campaign. Scientific evidence is being mustered. The link to America's military preparedness is being made. As Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., wrote recently to the first lady, nearly a third of 17- to 24-year-olds are unfit for military service due to their weight or lack of fitness. · Read the entire article.
A cornucopia of locally grown produce by Margo McDonough Delaware Online Published 06/13/2010
Delaware sure knows how to produce produce -- from asparagus in April to summer's dozens of fruits and vegetables, followed by the fall crop of apples and pumpkins, ending with turnip and winter squash in late November. More than 50 fruits and vegetables are grown in the state and available for local retail purchase. Buying local has become mainstream, says Anna Stoops, a University of Delaware Cooperative Extension agriculture agent, in part because of programs like the USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Neighbor initiative. This decidedly non-stodgy government effort connects with its fans via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogger and RSS feeds. School districts can learn how to participate in the Farm to School program that puts local veggies in school lunches, the way that Woodbridge School District does. Growers can learn about workshops that help beginning farmers. And consumers can gain a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it gets to their plate · Read the entire article.
From the farm to students' plates by Howard Weiss-Tisman Brattleboro Reformer Published 06/12/2010
Hans Estrin wants to change the world, one head of lettuce at a time. Just over a year ago, Estrin had a pretty good job teaching science at The Putney School. Each semester he would get frustrated and depressed, learning how little local schools were accessing the produce that Vermont is famous for. Schools were serving apples from Washington, frozen carrots from who-knows-where, and prepared lettuce from California, while local farmers harvested the same crops less than a mile up the road. So Estrin decided to try to change that. · Read the entire article.
Sebelius stumps for anti-childhood obesity plan by Murray Evans Bellingham Herald Published 06/11/2010
The Obama administration is calling on mayors to help in the fight against childhood obesity because the effort won't work if communities don't engage in it, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a conference Friday. Sebelius touted first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity at the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors. Sebelius encouraged about 400 mayors and members of their staffs to have their cities join a new part of the campaign, dubbed "Let's Move Cities and Towns." · Read the entire article.
School Nutrition Explores Farm-to-School Programs School Nutrition Association News Published 06/11/2010
Are you considering working to implement a farm-to-school program in your district? The June/July issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, walks you through the steps for deciding whether such a program is right for your school meals operation, as well as for implementing best practices. · Read the entire article.
Congressman proposes $8 billion for child nutrition by Jane Black Washington Post Published 06/10/2010
Many advocates cheered the proposed increase in funding. The sustainable agriculture lobby cheered $50 million in mandatory funding for farm-to-school programs. The School Nutrition Association applauded the new professional standards for cafeteria workers. · Read the entire article.
A model lunch by Nancy Brands Ward Sacramento News & Review Published 06/10/2010
School lunch has a bad rep. The phrase no doubt invokes memories of suspiciously gray-colored hot dogs, 2,000-calorie cinnamon rolls and nutrient-free vegetables, like ketchup, from your school days. But people involved in the one local Farm to School program say eating like that is utterly old-school. · Read the entire article.
Advocates Work To Improve, Better Fund School Lunches by Rachael McDonald OPB News Published 06/10/2010
For children from low income homes, school lunch can be the only consistent source of nourishment in their lives. The Federal Nutrition Guidelines for the school lunch program is up for renewal in Congress this year. KLCC's Rachael McDonald takes a look at school lunch, its nutrition, its value and its future. · Read the entire article.
UNI appointed to lead Farm-to-School Network Missouri Valley Times Published 06/09/2010
In a collaborative effort, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership (NIFFP) at the University of Northern Iowa and the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) were appointed to co-leadership positions for the Midwest region of the National Farm to School Network (NFTSN). They will work with K-12 schools in seven states to help begin or continue farm-to-school connections. · Read the entire article.
Baboquivari High School students use native foods to win national award by Jenny Anchondo KOLD News 13 Published 06/08/2010
The Tohono O'odham people have the highest rate of diabetes among Native American tribes, according to the USDA. Diabetes impacts about half of Tohono O'odham adults, but only four to six percent of all Americans. However, when faced with the challenge of creating a healthy, tasty school lunch, it was Tohono O'odham students from Baboquivari High School that won the national "Cooking Up Change" contest by using native foods. The contest is in line with TOCA's overall goal to re-introduce native foods in a community hard-hit by diabetes. · Read the entire article.
Making local cuisine a cafeteria constant by Brian Devore Twin Cities Daily Planet Published 06/07/2010
Farm to school programs have taken off in Minnesota. An estimated 69 school districts now have programs, which is more than double the number of Minnesota districts with farm to school initiatives in 2008. But the majority of these initiatives are still in the tentative, experimental phase. · Read the entire article.
Sanders finds federal funds for school gardens statewide by Howard Weiss-Tisman Brattleboro Reformer Published 06/05/2010
As the Brattleboro School District moves ahead with its plan to hire a full-time farm to school coordinator, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Friday that he has secured $120,000 in federal funding for community gardens at up to 40 schools around the state. "The Brattleboro Farm to School Program is one of the most progressive forces in developing the local food movement in our area," Post Oil Solutions Executive Director Tim Stevenson said. "It is second to none in advancing an awareness amongst children and their families about the importance of locally produced food." · Read the entire article.
School Nutrition by Bente Birkeland Capital Coverage Report Published 06/04/2010
School may be out for the summer – but the movement to lower childhood obesity rates, and get children to exercise and eat well is gaining momentum nationally and across Colorado. Advocates for healthier school lunches and farm to school programs say a shift in national policy is causing slow but significant changes in how schools and the public think about food. But as Bente Birkeland found, there’s still a long ways to go. · Read the entire article.
Asparagus is home run in Triton farm-to-school project by Janet Kubat Willette agrinews.com Published 06/02/2010
Who knew eating asparagus could be so much fun? The Triton School cafeteria took on a festive atmosphere May 28 as the lunch crew rolled out asparagus, steamed to perfection. · Read the entire article.
Congressional bill links Minnesota school districts to local farmers by Sharon Rolenc Hutchinson Leader Published 06/02/2010
The National Farm to School Act, introduced in Congress last Friday, could mean access to healthier food for school kids, and an economic boost for Minnesota farmers. · Read the entire article.
Missouri takes on childhood obesity one step at a time by Brian Krebs Columbia Missourian Published 06/01/2010
As director of nutrition services, Laina Fullum works to serve students nutritious meals at school. This year she implemented the Farm to Food initiative. After the 2008 national Farm Bill, school lunch programs are now allowed to give preference to local farmers. Columbia is one of only a handful of Missouri school districts that asks local farmers to grow a variety of produce — including tomatoes, berries, melons, potatoes and onions — to serve in school cafeterias. Initially Fullum and her cross-state colleagues had difficulty getting access to the local food, but the situation is improving, she said. "What we've run into is a lack of infrastructure and a lack of supply," Fullum said. "So, what we're currently doing is working with a new vendor to help supply us with local fresh foods and vegetables. · Read the entire article.
The NEW Farmer by Beverly & Sean Corvino The NEW Farmer Published 06/01/2010
The NEW Farmer's Voice short is a documentary of a young couple's desire to sucessfully work a family farm in Scotland, CT. Erica and Chris Andrews have received enthusiastic support from their neighbors for their diverse products. They are using the CSA model (Community Supported Agriculture) to provide locally-produced food for their community--meat, vegetables, honey, eggs, maple syrup and more! With this follow-up to 'The Farmer's Voice' (2006), filmmakers Beverly and Sean Corvino follow the Andrews family as they describe how fulfilling it is to be NEW farmers, raising a family and working the land on Hurricane Farm. · Watch the video · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school movement gains momentum by Jeannette E. Warnert Agriculture and Natural Resources News Blog Published 06/01/2010
UC Davis is riding high on a swell of interest in changing the way American children eat. First lady Michelle Obama, celebrity chef Alice Waters and TV personality Jamie Oliver are behind the spiking popularity of a movement that has been quietly building for years in places like UC Davis, which founded the Davis Farm to School Connection in 2000. · Read the entire article.
New Hampshire School Children Getting Healthy by Eating Fresh, Local Food by Eleanor Baron New Hampshire Town and City Published 06/01/2010
New Hampshire school administrators, nutrition professionals, nurses, teachers and local farmers didn’t need a celebrity chef coming to town to get inspired to change the way our kids eat. With no film crew, no media buzz, creative people have been at work for years in New Hampshire to bring healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables into our schools, and they’re getting results. Although media phenomenom Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” television series may be indicative of nationally growing interest in healthy food, the series gained little respect in the school nutrition community as a whole. Without a reality television show, that community was already in full gear, working to combat childhood obesity through healthy eating. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School School Nutrition Published 06/01/2010
Are you considering working to implement a farm-to-school program in your district? The June/July issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, walks you through the steps for deciding whether such a program is right for your school meals operation, as well as for implementing best practices. · Read the entire article.
School of the Soil by David Thompson Hana Hou (The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines) Published 06/01/2010
Cover story article profiling the Hawaii Island School Garden Network and Hawaii school garden movement. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program puts focus on healthy eating by Ashley Gebb The Appeal-Democrat Published 05/31/2010
School nutritionists, farmers and others in the agriculture industry have joined forces to make Farm to School a reality in Yuba County. They brainstormed this week about potential allies and barriers they will face if they push to feed students more local produce and start more school gardens. · Read the entire article.
Put healthy helpings of Michigan-grown foods in school meals by Diane Conners Detroit Free Press Published 05/30/2010
Betti Wiggins, director of operations in food service for Detroit Public Schools, is determined to serve more Michigan-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to the 52,000 kids she feeds at lunchtime each day. But, as the Institute of Medicine noted last fall, she and other schools need more money to do that. Wiggins' budget allows for only $1.18 per meal, or about what you'd pay for a half cup of gourmet coffee. · Read the entire article.
More NH schools buy locally grown food by Terry Date Eagle Tribune Published 05/29/2010
The New Hampshire Farm to School Program started with apples, branched out to vegetables and continues to grow. Some of its newest growth is in Windham, where farmer Scott Johnson is now readying rows to plant corn, squash, cucumbers and lettuce among other produce in a field next to Golden Brook Elementary School. The vegetables will end up on the plates of Windham elementary, middle and high school students next school year, fulfilling goals of the farm program: healthy eating, a healthy local economy and teaching students about farming. · Read the entire article.
JCC embarks on nutrition action plan by Ryan Brinks Jackson County Pilot Published 05/27/2010
In the wake of an all school health evaluation, Jackson County Central administrators, staff, board members, community organizations and parents are spearheading the development of a nutrition action plan they hope will be final a year from now. · Read the entire article.
USDA Deputy Secretary visits two Manchester farms by Jana Miller Heritage Newspapers Published 05/27/2010
At least two Manchester farms were bestowed a great honor last Wednesday when they had a visit from agricultural leader Kathleen Merrigan. Fusilier Family Farms and Horning Dairy Farm hosted the USDA Deputy Secretary for a tour of their properties just after her Detroit conference. · Read the entire article.
Bringing Better Food to Public Schools, One Farm at a Time by Chi Ewusi Global Shift Published 05/27/2010
At the last Farm to Cafeteria Conference held in Detroit, Michigan last week, keynote speaker Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Agriculture reassured America that the health of our children is a top priority. Obesity prevention is a legitimate undertaking of the Obama Administration (specifically the cause of our First Lady) and it all starts with what you put on their plates in that multi-purpose room. · Read the entire article.
Farm to fight obesity by Kim Ode Star Tribune Published 05/26/2010
Seeking to make farming "cool" again, founders of the national AmeriCorps Farm to School and school garden service program are gearing up to recruit people for a yearlong term of public service in school food systems in communities of need. Service members will build and tend school gardens, conduct nutrition education and build Farm to School supply chains, all toward helping overcome childhood obesity. To learn more about participating, visit www.food-corps.org. · Read the entire article.
WFFC’s Farm to School program honored by USDA visit Willamette Farm & Food Coalition Published 05/26/2010
WFFC’s Farm to School Programs in the Eugene 4J and Bethel School Districts were selected for a visit by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Team in May 2010. Nearly 300 school districts nationwide requested a visit from the team and fifteen districts in nine areas were selected for a visit. · Read the entire article.
Last week's National Farm to School conference draws 700, showcases city's food system innovations by Kelli B. Kavanaugh Model D Published 05/25/2010
More than 700 food activists, farmers, school administrators and city officials packed the Renaissance Center from May 17 to 19 for the fifth annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Hosted by the National Farm to School Network, attendees were immersed in the politics and logistics of incorporating fresh, local food into school meals. · Read the entire article.
Local Farm-Fresh Food Arrives at Café Blake The Blake School News Published 05/25/2010
Minnesota-grown greens will be the first to arrive, followed shortly by fruits and vegetables then, eventually, meats. “Food revolutions” are sweeping the nation, and Blake is undergoing its own starting this week. Café Blake, which is operated by Taher, Inc., announced that the School will be serving up fresh, locally grown produce on all three campuses through a new farm-to-school initiative. · Read the entire article.
Honoring sustainable ag visionary: Tom Lamm by Margaret Krome The Cap Times Published 05/25/2010
The Detroit Public Schools Office of Food Services has initiated a Farm to School program aimed at increasing children’s consumption of local produce, both to improve their nutrition and to create local economic growth. Regional analysts say that $187 million in personal income and at least 1,889 jobs could be created through such farm to school strategies. · Read the entire article.
Strawberry week proclaimed in Delaware Cape Gazette Published 05/25/2010
All Delaware school districts are now participating in the Delaware Farm to School program. Gov. Jack Markell recently joined Delaware farmers and state agencies at Harlan Elementary School in Wilmington to celebrate locally grown Delaware strawberries, declaring the week of May 17–21 to be Strawberry Week in Delaware. The governor signed House Bill 203 last week designating strawberries as the official state fruit. “This program is about sustaining and expanding a strong local and regional food system that involves not only growing food, but also processing food, marketing food and transporting food, all of which sustain and create jobs for Delawareans and help us preserve farmland and open space", says Gov. Jack Markell. · Read the entire article.
A ripe market by Renee Stern The Grower Published 05/24/2010
Opportunities in the expanding school food markets are ripe for growers to explore. “This is the peak era,” says Anupama Joshi, program director for the National Farm to School Program in Los Angeles. “It’s all hit a tipping point.” Congress is weighing funding proposals and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to streamline its programs, she says. Attention from the Obama administration, including the first lady’s work with school gardens and nutrition, also helps. · Read the entire article.
Area school districts purchase produce from nearby farms by DOUG ZELLMER AND ADAM RODEWALD The Northwestern Published 05/23/2010
Omro is among a growing number of Wisconsin school districts that are serving students fresh, locally grown produce through the National Farm to School program — part of an initiative to bring healthy food from local farms to school children. The program sprouted from a desire in the late 1990s to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms and promoting healthy eating habits in students. · Read the entire article.
GRPS Promotes Farm to School Menu by Jennifer Pascua WZZM 13 Published 05/21/2010
The Farm-to-Cafeteria conference is underway in Detroit this week and promoting local growers in neighborhood schools is the main push. The conversation about healthy school meals happens often in Grand Rapids. In fact, this week the district is showcasing the importance of supporting Michigan agricultural businesses. · Read the entire article.
School lunch program that touts foods produced in Michigan by Jackson Citizen Mlive.com Published 05/20/2010
Michigan-grown produce is cropping up in cafeterias around Jackson County this week as part of a statewide promotion to use local products in schools. · Read the entire article.
Schools add locally-grown produce to menu by Emily Pace Midlands Connect Published 05/18/2010
· Read the entire article.
Detroit hosts "Farm to Cafeteria" conference by Associated Press 6 WLNS Published 05/17/2010
This week's national "Farm to Cafeteria" conference in Detroit will include a look at area efforts to provide fresh, local food. The event titled "Taking Root" opens Monday and runs through Wednesday. It offers the chance for people to learn about initiatives involving food for schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, colleges and prisons. · Read the entire article.
Va. Beach trying to put local fruit on school plates by Jaedda Armstrong Hampton Roads Published 05/17/2010
New on the menu at Virginia Beach Public Schools are locally grown strawberries. Well, sort of. They're from a farm in Clinton, N.C. Still, this is a sweet victory for school officials who for years have tried to replace prepackaged products with fresh local foods. "Local" is defined by the school district as foods grown within 400 miles of Virginia Beach. · Read the entire article.
School districts to offer menus with Michigan food by Associated Press South Bend Tribune Published 05/15/2010
Some school districts across Michigan next week plan to offer menus filled with food from the state. The school menus are timed to coincide with a statewide "Local Foods Week" that was proclaimed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. A three-day national "Farm to Cafeteria" conference begins Monday in Detroit. · Read the entire article.
School districts to offer menus with Michigan food by Associated Press R&D Magazine Published 05/15/2010
"Local Foods Week" runs from Sunday until May 22. Meanwhile, a three-day national "Farm to Cafeteria" conference begins Monday in Detroit that will include a look at area efforts to provide fresh, local food. · Read the entire article.
Rachel Ray by Kerry Trueman Huffington Post Published 05/14/2010
A good article in the Huffington Post re Rachel Ray's support for better childhood nutrition in schools and her advocacy to Congress to support Childhood Nutrition Reauthorization legislation. · Read the entire article.
Homer students’ new menu of the garden variety by Naomi Klouda Fairbanks Daily News Published 05/13/2010
Before the Alaska governor signed a new bill that allows for local produce to be purchased and incorporated into school menus, Homer’s Flex High School was already a step ahead. · Read the entire article.
Senators, Rachael Ray, first lady push for children's nutrition programs by Daniel Malloy http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10132/1057450-84.stm Published 05/12/2010
Sen. Bob Casey Jr. has been an advocate for child nutrition programs for years, but Pennsylvania's soft-spoken Democrat will be the first to admit he doesn't have star power. So when first lady Michelle Obama and celebrity chef Rachael Ray both held events Tuesday to call for federal action on child obesity, Mr. Casey saw the benefits of the limelight. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10132/1057450-84.stm#ixzz0npXQ1SDi · Read the entire article.
Sen. Bob Casey Jr. has been an advocate for child nutrition programs for years, but Pennsylvania's s B4Tea Published 05/12/2010
Michelle Obama is the first lady who released childhood obesity action plan on Tuesday 11th may, 2010. In United States, the rate of childhood obesity has grown rapidly in recent years. There are plenty of data available that disclose the stunning fact that almost 60% of children in America are obesed children. In 2002, obesity statistics affirmed that 22% of US preschoolers were overweight. By showing this data, every one can imagine that childhood obesity is big problem right now. The number of children who are obese has tripled to 15% in last thirty years. Obesity is the easiest medical condition for recognition purpose but it is most difficult medical condition for treatment purpose. · Read the entire article.
Know someone smart, green and/or growing? The Baltimore Sun Published 05/12/2010
Gov. Martin O'Malley isn't done handing out the 2010 awards under the Smart, Green and Growing program, but he's already calling on residents to nominate next year's winners. Citizens can nominate their fellow citizens, local governments and organizations for recognition under the program. · Read the entire article.
Willmar School Board raises lunch prices for ’10-11, talks about free breakfast program by Linda Vanderwerf West Central Tribune Published 05/12/2010
The Willmar School Board has approved a nickel increase in the cost of students’ school meals for the 2010-11 school year. The increase, roughly $9 per student for the school year, came after a lengthy discussion at the board meeting Monday. One of the issues was whether the district should continue to provide breakfast free to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. · Read the entire article.
Groups seek $50 million for farm to school programs by Tom Karst The Packer Published 05/11/2010
More than 40 organizations are urging Congress to set aside $50 million in mandatory funding for farm to school programs as part of the reauthorization of child nutrition programs. · Read the entire article.
Volunteers will go to areas where such food is hard to find and help procure local products by Leslie Cole The Oregonian Published 05/11/2010
A new service program promises to recruit an army of volunteers to help transform school food and, perhaps, groom a new generation of farmers. · Read the entire article.
GSU professor finds link between obesity and federal school nutrition programs. by Georgia State University Disabled World Published 05/11/2010
With obesity becoming an epidemic among school-aged children in this country, a Georgia State University professor has found a link between overweight children and federal school nutrition programs. · Read the entire article.
GSU professor finds link between obesity and federal school nutrition programs by Renee DeGross Valdes EurekAlert Published 05/11/2010
With obesity becoming an epidemic among school-aged children in this country, a Georgia State University professor has found a link between overweight children and federal school nutrition programs. Research reveals that children who eat lunch as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have an increased likelihood of becoming overweight, according to research co-authored by Rusty Tchernis, associate professor with Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. The findings also show that the School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a "valuable tool in the current battle against childhood obesity," according to the research. · Read the entire article.
Five Reasons for Optimism on the School Food Front by Sarah Henry lettuce eat kale Published 05/10/2010
An ex-Washington Post reporter, who now blogs about school food, recently spent a week embedded in the central kitchen of the Berkeley Unified School District, in my hometown. · Read the entire article.
U.S. schools add fresh food without busting budgets by Lisa Baertlein Reuters Published 05/06/2010
Thousands of U.S. public school districts are teaming up with local farmers to put more fresh fruits and vegetables on lunchroom menus, without breaking budgets or getting any help from celebrity chefs. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Program brings local produce into local cafeterias by Wendy Johnson AgWeek Published 05/06/2010
Some 100 area residents gathered at the Cloquet Forestry Center last Thursday with one common goal in mind – to bring more local foods to community cafeterias. The Farm to School Program (more generically referred to as “School to Cafeteria”) is a recent initiative of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, which sponsored the day-long conference in consort with various sustainable farming initiatives and agricultural organizations. “Our goal,” said Stephanie Heim, Farm to School coordinator, “is to bring food producers together with buyers and food service workers in order to supply cafeterias with fresh, local produce in place of the institutional, processed foods that many of them currently serve.” · Read the entire article.
Bill urges schools to serve locally grown food by Andrew Wellner The Frontiersman Published 05/06/2010
With the stroke of his pen Tuesday, Gov. Sean Parnell put more Alaska fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias. “You have yourself a farm-to-school program,” Parnell said, putting down his pen. The bill was a project Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, pushed through the legislature this year. Gatto said it not only brings more local produce into school lunches but also creates opportunities for children to learn about agriculture and nutrition. It wasn’t a tough sell to his colleagues. "A 60 to to 0 vote is pretty amazing. That tells you something about the entire state supporting what we’re doing here in Palmer,” Gatto said. · Read the entire article.
Organizations Urge Congress to Fund Farm to School Program by K.C. Compton Grit Published 05/05/2010
A farm-to-school program was first authorized in 2004 in the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, but funds were never actually appropriated for the effort. Earlier this year, Senator Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) each introduced farm-to-school bills that include $50 million in mandatory funding for a program to be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Representatives Farr (D-CA) and Putnam (R-FL) included $50 million for farm-to-school in their Children's Fruit and Vegetable Act of 2009 (H.R. 4333), as did California Sen. Barbara Boxer in her Growing Farm to School Protection Act (S. 3144). · Read the entire article.
Governor Signs Farm-to-School Bill by Diana Haecker Published 05/05/2010
Governor Sean Parnell on Tuesday signed into law the Farm-to-School Act at Palmer High School. · Read the entire article.
41 ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESS TO FUND FARM TO SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM by National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition AgriMarketing Published 05/04/2010
· Read the entire article.
41 ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESS TO FUND FARM TO SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Published 05/04/2010
41 national organizations delivered a letter to House and Senate Congressional leaders Monday urging them to include $50 million in mandatory funding for programs linking farmers with local schools as part of the 2010 Child Nutrition Act reauthorization. Farm to School programs have a proven track record of increasing farmers' incomes while also improving the nutrition and food literacy of school children. · Read the entire article.
Introducing the Food Corps by Paula Crossfield Mark Bittman's Posterous Published 05/04/2010
With one in three children (and one in two children of color) overweight or obese in this country, the health of America’s kids is under the microscope and, for the first time in our history, children born now will not live as long as their parents. Michelle Obama has launched her Let’s Move campaign and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution brought the school cafeteria to television. But as Oliver’s program showed, one of the biggest barriers to changing kids’ eating is a lack of labor and expertise. · Read the entire article.
Farmers, schools team up to serve local foods by Janet Kubat Willette AgriNews Published 04/29/2010
Locally grown foods are increasingly finding their way to school cafeterias across Minnesota. A January survey conducted by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the Minnesota School Nutrition Association found that the number of Minnesota school districts purchasing local food has more than doubled in the past 15 months. · Read the entire article.
Port Townsend group petitions for healthy, local food in schools by Jennifer Jackson Peninsula Daily News Published 04/26/2010
According to the film "Two Angry Moms," it takes a whole community to change the status quo. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School builds gardens for Charlotte preschoolers by Lynn Wise Charlotte Preschool Examiner Published 04/25/2010
On Friday, April 23, 2010, CharMeck Farm to School had a donation of compost delivered by Mecklenburg County to St. John’s Baptist Church, which houses their weekday preschool and 4 Bethlehem Center Head Start classes. · Read the entire article.
Hot Lunch: Discussing Student Food, Chicken Nuggets, and Reality TV with the Head of Seattle Public by Steven Blum The Stranger Published 04/20/2010
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is all about the crappy food American public schools serve to kids. Oliver is famous for revamping the school lunch program in Britain, and since the kids there ate crap, and the kids here eat crap, and because kids who eat crap tend to grow up into adults who eat crap, the show focuses mainly on Oliver's attempts to revamp a school lunch program in Huntington, West Virginia, which is filled to the brim with crap. · Read the entire article.
Will work for food? Try Food Corps by Jane Black Washington Post Published 04/19/2010
The problems with school food are well-established. There’s not enough money, not enough manpower and often not enough know-how to produce fresher, more healthful food. Now, a group of good-food advocates has a plan: Establish a national Food Corps to help to do the heavy lifting. The team, led by the National Farm to School Network, has raised $215,000 in grants from the Kellogg Foundation and AmeriCorps to get its program off the ground. If successful, the Food Corps will take on volunteers starting in 2011 for one-year placements at schools across the country. · Read the entire article.
Local foods go to school: Federal officials will visit Eugene to learn more about how local produce by Anne Williams The Eugene Register Guard Published 04/16/2010
The Eugene and Bethel school districts’ food service programs have caught the eye of federal officials charged with leading a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at bringing more fresh, local food to school cafeterias and teaching students where their food comes from. · Read the entire article.
Changing the look of School Lunch, one Tray at a Time Taher, Inc. News Published 04/16/2010
We often think of school lunch as cardboard pizza and grey green beans, but for students at Concord Community Schools, lunch looks very different. Over the past year, students have enjoyed fresh, locally grown fruits and vegeta- bles as part of their school lunch. In the fall of 2008, Food Service Director Alan Breneman began a Farm to School program in the school district and started sourc- ing produce from area farmers. Mr. Breneman became connected to local farmers through a partner- ship with Food System Economic Partnership, a non-profit in south- east Michigan that works to link farmers with consumers. · Read the entire article.
What I learned at Michelle Obama’s historic obesity summit by Debra Eschmeyer Grist Published 04/15/2010
Joining the ranks of the 75 students who are Michelle Obama's most critical stakeholders in her Let's Move! campaign, I was fortunate enough to be on deck and participate as a representative for the National Farm to School Network at this meeting and make the point that connecting schools to their surrounding farmers is critical. · Read the entire article.
Chalkboard: Better food at a school near you by Susan Troller Cap Times, Madison Published 04/15/2010
Local foodies are cheering the news that Wisconsin lawmakers this week passed legislation that will help bring local farm products to school lunchrooms. The Assembly passed AB 746, which creates a statewide council to coordinate the process of selling Wisconsin-grown products to schools. The Senate concurred on the Farm-to-School initiative which is cheering news to Wisconsin farmers and advocates for more fresh foods on school menus. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school project wins praise by Mitch Lies Capital Press Published 04/15/2010
Quanbeck toured a school cafeteria, talked to school food buyers and toured Nature's Fountain Farm near Albany during her stop in Oregon last week. Scott Frost, who owns the farm, grows organic vegetables under contract for the farm-to-school program. He encouraged Quanbeck to promote the farm-to-school nationwide. "If anybody says this can't work, they need to come and talk to me," Frost said, "because it can work anywhere." · Read the entire article.
Whatcom schools work to get local produce to students by Kira Cox The Bellingham Herald Published 04/11/2010
Whatcom County is heavy in agriculture, with large berry farms, apple orchards and small vegetable farms dotting the landscape, but very little of that produce makes it into the county's seven school districts. · Read the entire article.
We need a nanny to pester us about our nutrient-poor diets by Suzanne Havala Hobbs Fresh Produce Published 04/07/2010
At the same time, Congress has reauthorized child nutrition programs and with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 has set in motion a series of new policies aimed at improving federal nutrition programs including the national school lunch program and the federal food assistance program for women and children. Once implemented, the legislation will, among other things, authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish stronger nutrition standards for all foods sold on school campuses throughout the school day, provide funds for local produce to be served in schools as part of the Farm-to-School Program, and provide funding for school gardens. These changes are long overdue and urgently needed. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-School Program Promotes Healthy Lunches to Students by Joe Nelson KSAX EYEWITNESS NEWS Published 04/07/2010
WADENA, Minn. - When students at Wadena Deer-Creek Elementary leave the class room to go on their lunch break, they're not taking a break from learning. About once a month, the Farm-to-School program teaches kids the value of eating healthy and eating local. · Read the entire article.
Getting the Cafeteria Connected to the Farm by Glen Gardner Public News Service Published 04/06/2010
There are lots of schools in Iowa and lots of farms, and there is a lot to be gained for students and farmers when farm-to-school programs help fuel Iowa cafeteria lines. School food service directors across the state and nation are starting to take a more serious look at programs that connect local farmers to the process of feeding schoolchildren. · Read the entire article.
Vt. city school food program is recognized by USDA by Associated Press Bennington Banner Published 04/04/2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is going to study the Burlington school district’s farm-to-school program. · Read the entire article.
Healthy, and Safe, School Lunches by Editorial The New York Times Published 04/04/2010
It is probably too much to hope that the more than 30 million school lunches served every day will taste absolutely fabulous. But Congress should at least make certain that whatever lands on those cafeteria trays is nutritious and safe to eat. Every day it delays doing so is another mealtime when millions of students are cheated of programs that could help relieve hunger and reduce obesity. · Read the entire article.
A TV Show and Congress Tackle School Lunches by Kim Severson The New York Times Published 03/30/2010
The Child Nutrition Act comes up for financing every five years. It pays for school food and other nutrition programs for lower-income children. It’s also the mechanism legislators can use to change the rules that govern those programs. The bill headed to the Senate floor would increase by about 6 cents the $2.68 that schools can get for each lunch — far less than the $1-a-lunch increase that a coalition of groups seeking to change school food programs have been campaigning for. · Read the entire article.
Industry advisory group hears about numerous issues by Tom Karst The Packer Published 03/30/2010
Lucas Knowles, special assistant to the office of the undersecretary, described the activities of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. Meanwhile, Chuck Parrott, associate deputy administrator of USDA AMS fruit and vegetable programs and Loren LaCore, program analyst for the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, described the agency’s farm-to-school initiative. · Read the entire article.
MN Farm To School: A Growing Success Story by Tim Morrissey Public News Service Published 03/29/2010
Small and mid-size farmers, whose products have been largely absent from America's lunch trays, are now offering Minnesota children fresh, less-processed choices, and a chance to learn where their food is grown. It's called the Farm-To-School program. · Read the entire article.
Are Your Kids Hungry For A Better School Lunch? by Michele S. Byers NJ Today Published 03/29/2010
In response, U.S. Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District is combating the problem with a law that would boost both local farms and the health of youngsters. He recently introduced the Farm to School Improvements Act (HR 4710), and it is a win-win for the Garden State! · Read the entire article.
Bill dies, obesity remains by Jessica Arriens Sentinel Source Published 03/29/2010
In 2008, the commission released 14 recommendations to lower that number, including farm-to-school purchasing, having dietician visits covered under medical insurance and screening for BMI. · Read the entire article.
Kittery school kitchen boss wins top state honor by Amy Bevan Seacoast Online Published 03/27/2010
Kitchen manager Cheryl Dixon's determination to bring fresh, healthy and locally grown food to Mitchell School students has earned her the Maine School Food Service Association's Louise Sublette Award of Excellence for 2010. · Read the entire article.
Senate Advances School Lunch Reform: Is A 6 Cent Increase Enough? by Mary Clare Jalonick Huffington Post Published 03/26/2010
The legislation would also provide money for farm-to-school programs, encouraging schools to buy foods from local farms and grow food gardens on campus. It would be partly paid for by reducing conservation subsidies paid to farmers for using environmentally friendly farming practices. · Read the entire article.
Jamie Oliver: Stirring Up a Food Fight by Debra Eschmeyer Huffington Post Published 03/26/2010
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is cooking up more than home made meals from fresh ingredients. The show has already stirred up deeply seeded emotions about school food feeding systems...all before the first episode airs tonight! · Read the entire article.
Jamie Oliver Turns the Spotlight on Our Own Homegrown Heroes by Kerry Trueman Huffington Post Published 03/26/2010
It's local cooks, teaching local people, it's free cooking lessons in the main street...this is real, tangible change...around America, there's plenty of wonderful things going on, there are angels in America doing great things in schools: farm to school set-ups, garden set-ups, education. There are amazing people doing this already. · Read the entire article.
Jamie Oliver’s ‘Food Revolution’ Stirs the Pot by Kim O'Donnel True/Slant Published 03/26/2010
In her Civil Eats essay, Debra Eschmeyer, of the Farm to School Network, expresses her wish that Oliver “would bring to the surface the myriad obstacles to bring fresh local food to the lunch room, most of which can be overcome, but it can’t necessarily be done in a couple weeks even with star-studded British flavor.” · Read the entire article.
Farm to Cafeteria Conference coming to Detroit Indianapolis Organic Food Examiner Published 03/26/2010
This spring, the 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference (hosted by the National Farm to School Network) will be taking place in Detroit, Michigan from May 17-19. The conference, entitled Taking Root, will offer workshops, speakers, short courses, movies, and field trips. · Read the entire article.
School lunches get a makeover by Kerri Miller Minnesota Public Radio Published 03/26/2010
School lunch programs are just one front in the battle against obesity. In an effort to address the quality and nutritional value of those programs, many Minnesota school districts are shifting to fewer processed foods and more fresh food from local farmers. Guests JoAnne Berkenkamp: Director of the program for local foods at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Jean Ronnei: Director of nutrition and commercial services with St. Paul Public Schools. · Read the entire article.
Schools on front lines in obesity battle by Tom Weber Minnesota Public Radio Published 03/25/2010
If you want to see the future of healthy school lunches, head out to the muddy fields of Gail Griffin's bison ranch. · Read the entire article.
Congress takes aim at unhealthy school lunches by Mary Clare Jalonick Houston Chronicle Published 03/24/2010
Greasy pizzas and high-calorie desserts may be less frequent lunchtime treats for schoolchildren under a wide-ranging nutrition bill approved by a Senate panel Wednesday. The legislation would also provide money for farm to school programs, encouraging schools to buy foods from local farms and grow food gardens on campus. · Read the entire article.
Senate panel takes aim at unhealthy school lunches by Associated Press Los Angeles Times Published 03/24/2010
The legislation approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee would allow the Agriculture Department to create uniform standards for all foods in schools, including vending machine items, to give students healthier meal options. The legislation allocates an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years for nutrition programs. · Read the entire article.
Montana's Farm to School program in D.C. spotlight by Mark Holyoak KPAX Published 03/23/2010
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau is in Washington D.C. to voice support for a program popping up all over Montana. The Farm to School program educates students about how agriculture is connected to food and nutrition. It also encourages children to make healthier food choices by eating more fruits and vegetables. · Read the entire article.
To fix school lunch program, D.C. turns to restaurateur by Jane Black Washington Post Published 03/23/2010
Black-and-white photos of students laughing with first lady Michelle Obama and White House chefs Sam Kass and Bill Yosses hang in the entryway of Kimball Elementary School in Southeast Washington. Kimball's students have been invited twice to visit the White House because their school has a vegetable garden. What it doesn't have is a kitchen. · Read the entire article.
Thousands to Dine on Pride of Dakota School Lunches by North Dakota Ag Connection US AgNet Published 03/22/2010
More than 55,000 students from 213 North Dakota schools will be lunching on food products from their own state, March 23, Pride of Dakota School Lunch Day. · Read the entire article.
School District plans to grow vegetables for lunch program by Anthony Gomes KHQ Local News Published 03/22/2010
Lynette Romney was sitting in a meeting last Spring where students were complaining about the quality of apples and produce in their lunches. "It occurred to me that we have a ton of fallow fields in this area, why don't we just grow our own?" Romney asked. · Read the entire article.
MSU researchers endorse farm-to-school programs by Associated Press Examiner Published 03/20/2010
Michigan State University scientists say schools that buy produce from local farmers can save money while giving students healthy food they enjoy. · Read the entire article.
MSU researchers endorse farm-to-school programs MLive.com Published 03/20/2010
Michigan State University scientists say schools that buy produce from local farmers can save money while giving students healthy food they enjoy. · Read the entire article.
Senator Leahy introduces “farm to school” bill by Office of Sen. Patrick Leahy Drovers Published 03/19/2010
Their "Growing Farm To School Programs Act" would provide $50 million in startup funds to local schools and districts, through competitive grants, for technical help in connecting school food service providers with local small- and medium-sized farms for efficient and cost-effective purchases of locally produced foods for school lunchrooms. · Read the entire article.
Fighting obesity in Wood County WAOW TV9 Published 03/19/2010
Wood County will also launch a Farm-to-School program that'll allow schools to purchase produce from local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School: Planting seeds of change in school lunchrooms by Rebecca Jones In Denver Times Published 03/18/2010
Denver schoolchildren are already starting to plant the seedlings that may wind up on their cafeteria lunch trays come fall. In Ignacio, steers that will feed local schoolchildren later this year are grazing in their pasture. In Greeley, schools are preparing gardens where their students will begin planting soon. · Read the entire article.
Senator proposes $4.5 billion for child nutrition by Jane Black Washington Post Published 03/17/2010
For more than a year, advocates of school food reform have been calling for more money to improve school lunch. Today, they're one step closer to getting it, but some say the amount is far less than they had hoped. · Read the entire article.
Farm-to-school numbers up and rising by Andrew Ranallo Think Forward Published 03/11/2010
A new survey, released Tuesday by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) and IATP, can serve as both encouragement for farm-to-school advocates and as a road map for schools, administrators or farmers looking to get involved in the growing movement. · Read the entire article.
It Takes a Rocket Scientist? by Debra Eschmeyer Huffington Post Published 03/10/2010
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12), an actual rocket scientist and five-time Jeopardy winner, has introduced legislation that would create a Farm to School grant program to fight childhood obesity and support local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Workshops explore program that brings healthy food from local farms to school cafeterias by Bill Rautenstrauch The Observer Published 03/10/2010
Healthy foods in school cafeterias and possible new markets for local family farms were topics at “Farm-to-School” workshops hosted in Island City last Friday by Oregon Rural Action. · Read the entire article.
Table Talk: Ferrisburgh wins farm to school video contest Addison County Independent Published 03/09/2010
Last year, fifth-grade students at Ferrisburgh Central School made a video showcasing their school's local, healthy food initiatives. In January, the video won the grand prize in “The Reel Farm to School,” a statewide school video contest sponsored by Vermont Food Education Every Day (VT FEED), the Orton Family Foundation, Vermont Public Television and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. Hartland Elementary and Randolph Elementary won second and third place in the contest. · Read the entire article.
Holt legislation would create 'Farm to School' program Hunterdon County Democrat Published 03/08/2010
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12th, has introduced legislation that would create a Farm to School grant program to fight childhood obesity and support local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Fresh from the farm: Delivery of beef is latest, tasty lesson for Quilcene School by Jennifer Jackson Peninsula Daily News Published 03/08/2010
Food doesn't necessarily come long distances on a truck anymore. On Wednesday, Quilcene School students will be served tacos made with grass-fed Angus beef raised on a farm 10 miles up the road. · Read the entire article.
Tester and Vilsack discuss Farm to School program in Bozeman by Michael Gibney The Bozeman Daily Chronicle Published 03/07/2010
"The farm-to-school movement offers new income opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers in addition to supporting off-farm jobs in rural America while giving children the opportunity to eat healthy, local fruits and vegetables and learn to be healthy eaters," according to USDA press release. · Read the entire article.
Bozeman Schools Eat Local For Farm to School Program by Dan Boyce Montana Published 03/04/2010
"Once a month Bozeman school children get something for lunch that's grown here in Montana. This week Hyalite Elementary was holding one of these Farm to School events. Americorps Vista volunteer Aubree Durfey helps coordinate the Gallatin Valley Farm to School program. She gets students excited for locally grown food by dressing like a vegetable..." · Read the entire article.
Gettin Real with Sustainability by Anya Fernald OrganicConnectMag.com Published 03/01/2010
There are challenges for anyone entering into a sustainable food business today. The titanic industrial agriculture machine that feeds the bulk of America provides cheap, assembly-line food that costs less to produce than nutritious food grown with consideration for the environment. The commercial media is largely supported by advertising revenues from this same machine and continues to entice consumers with the virtues of cheap, processed and “conventionally” produced food. The question becomes, how can a small-scale sustainable-food business survive in such an environment, bring their products to market, price them affordably, and effectively reach the consumer? · Read the entire article.
Farm to School 'Real Food Is' Video Contest Online Video Contests Published 03/01/2010
Due on March 29th, 2010 - Create a short video that completes the phrase "Real Food is..." and you can win $1,000 for your school food project. Produce a 30 second to 3 minute video that informs, inspires, and encourages student advocacy to restore connections to community, food, land, and place through Farm to Cafeteria programs. It’s recommended to include the following elements: 1. What does real food mean to you? 2. How does what we eat affect our culture, health, economy, or environment? 3. Why should your cafeteria start or continue buying local food? · Read the entire article.
Federal grant to help put local food into N.E. schools, hospitals by Lisa Rathke Boston Globe Published 02/18/2010
A new $250,000 federal grant is aimed at putting more locally raised food into New England’s schools, colleges, and hospitals. The Department of Agriculture grant, awarded this month to the northeast committee of the National Farm to School Network, will help pay for expanding processing of local food in Massachusetts, opening a new processing project in Maine and setting up a model distribution · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program has third-graders scrambling to the salad bar by Lisa Rathke Chistian Science Monitor Published 02/17/2010
The third- and fourth-graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions, and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke KTUU Alaska Published 02/08/2010
About 40 states have farm-to-school programs, but Vermont is a leader in incorporating all three missions into its programs. "Vermont has really taken it on in quite the most holistic way and not just in a couple of school districts but statewide," said Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School program, based at the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Vermont may be a step ahead of other states because a nonprofit partnership called Vermont FEED had already been working to get local foods into schools. · Read the entire article.
Farm To School Program Changes Kids' Views On Food by Lisa Rathke CBS News Published 02/08/2010
About 40 states have farm-to-school programs, but Vermont is a leader in incorporating all three missions into its programs. "Vermont has really taken it on in quite the most holistic way and not just in a couple of school districts but statewide," said Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School program, based at the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Vermont may be a step ahead of other states because a nonprofit partnership called Vermont FEED had already been working to get local foods into schools. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Associated Press CBS News Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Program Changes Kids' Views on Food by Lisa Rathke, Associated Press ABC News Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke, Associated Press Newsday Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
What started as a handful of pilot programs has grown into 45 Vermont schools getting grants and abo by Associated Press WWLTV Louisiana Published 02/08/2010
They've visited the farms. They also know something about how the carrots, onions and cabbage are grown and their nutritional value. They've studied it in class and grown their own in school gardens. The school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition, and supporting local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke WWLTV Louisiana Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary School in Vermont know where the veggies in their soup come from. They've visited the farms. They also know something about how the carrots, onions and cabbage are grown and their nutritional value. They've studied it in class and grown their own in school gardens. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program plants seeds of healthy eating in kids by Lisa Rathke Los Angeles Times Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Program Changes Kids' Views on Food by Associated Press New York Times Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary School in Vermont know where the veggies in their soup come from. They've visited the farms. They also know something about how the carrots, onions and cabbage are grown and their nutritional value. They've studied it in class and grown their own in school gardens. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke The Seattle Times Published 02/08/2010
About 40 states have farm-to-school programs, but Vermont is a leader in incorporating all three missions into its programs. "Vermont has really taken it on in quite the most holistic way and not just in a couple of school districts but statewide," said Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School program, based at the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program plants seeds of healthy eating in kids by Lisa Rathke Canadian Business Online Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke The Daily Caller Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they’ve visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they’ve studied them in class, and they know how they’re grown because they’ve nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids‘ views on food by Lisa Rathke News One Published 02/08/2010
The 105-student school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition and supporting local farmers. "Vermont has really taken it on in quite the most holistic way and not just in a couple of school districts but statewide," said Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School program, based at the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke Examiner Published 02/08/2010
The 105-student school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition and supporting local farmers. "Vermont has really taken it on in quite the most holistic way and not just in a couple of school districts but statewide," said Anupama Joshi, director of the Farm to School program, based at the Center for Food and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke WTOP Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program plants seeds of healthy eating in kids by Lisa Rathke CulturalSignificance.com Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. · Read the entire article.
Hawthorne Elementary, MSU Hold Local Food Events by Dan Boyce Montana Published 02/08/2010
"Bozeman's Hawthorne Elementary provided the venue Monday for a roundtable discussion on the future of local food. It was a who's who of local, statewide and regional policy makers. The list included Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Montana State University President Waded Cruzado, farmers, educators and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture..." · Read the entire article.
Farm to School program changes kids' views on food by Lisa Rathke The Boston Globe Published 02/08/2010
The third and fourth graders at Sharon Elementary know where the veggies in their soup come from because they've visited the farms. They know the nutritional value of the carrots, onions and cabbage because they've studied them in class, and they know how they're grown because they've nurtured them in raised beds out back. The 105-student school is part of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition and supporting local farmers. · Read the entire article.
Proposal Would Create Statewide Farm-to-School Program by Wisconsin Ag Connection Wisconsin Ag Connection Published 02/04/2010
Two central Wisconsin lawmakers are making a push to help farmers access new markets for their products, while providing students with healthy fresh fruits and vegetables and other Wisconsin grown food. State Representative Amy Sue Vruwink and Senator Julie Lassa are proposing a 'Farm to School' program, which would first establish a statewide advisory council at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and then create a statewide coordinator position to help run the initiative. · Read the entire article.
Some schools opting for local, farm fresh lunches by Vivian Luu Eat, Drink, and Be Published 02/02/2010
Some schools opting for local, farm fresh lunches By Vivian Luu February 2, 2010 More schools are stepping away from processed food and jumping into the Farm to School (FTS) program, which brings local food into lunchrooms and gets students in touch with where their food comes from. The program aims to boost students’ consumption of fruits and vegetables during lunch. Strengthening their understanding of agriculture, nutrition and the environment is also on the program’s agenda, in hopes of promoting lifelong healthy eating habits and environmental stewardship. · Read the entire article.
Farm-fresh school lunches on the way by Joan Qazi The Wenatchee World Published 02/01/2010
“What’s for lunch?” Sometimes I don’t want to answer this question, especially when I know my kids and I don’t always agree about what constitutes a good meal. If it’s not pizza or burgers, then they show less enthusiasm about sitting down to eat. There are people whose paid employment means facing up to this question asked by hundreds of kids every day. School food service personnel are charged with feeding our children well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks during their school day. This task is made even harder by constrained budgets and national health statistics trending upwards for childhood obesity and diabetes · Read the entire article.
Obama Budget Doesn’t Thrill School Lunch Advocates by Kim Severson NY Times Published 02/01/2010
President Obama’s budget proposal is getting mixed reviews among the people watching over the quality of public school lunches. Some say it’s too little to make any meaningful change, while others are relieved school food programs are getting anything when other agricultural programs have been cut. · Read the entire article.
Mary Cheh on Fighting Obesity with “Healthy Schools” by N/A TheSlowCook.com Published 02/01/2010
D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has introduced landmark “Healthy Schools” legislation that integrates nutrition standards, locally produced foods, school gardening, broader access to subsidized meals and increased physical exercise to address obesity and other children’s health issues in the nation’s capitol. I recently submitted 34 written questions to Cheh about her bill, resulting in this interview by e-mail. The questions were submitted before I reported a six-part account of the food being served in D.C. schools. · Read the entire article.
State of the Union's School Lunch: Nutrition as National Defense and Fiscal Health by Debra Eschmeyer Huffington Post Published 01/27/2010
Don't make us tighten our belts on child nutrition programs while the girth of the nation grows. The government spends $1 million per soldier in Afghanistan, yet barely spends $1 on the food in a school lunch. When President Obama addresses the nation in his State of the Union, he will outline his priorities for 2010: jobs, the deficit, and health care reform. The President will then call for a three-year freeze on domestic programs. Will a program created to "promote the health and well-being of the nation's children" survive the freeze? · Read the entire article.
Farm to School Team Teachers Trained by T.W. Iowa State Online Published 01/26/2010
High school students from four school northeast Iowa school districts recently participated in a training coordinated by Iowa State University Extension at Luther College. The training prepared students for their role as cross-age teachers in the Farm to School program which will begin in January. The high school age team teachers will facilitate Farm to School lessons with second grade students once a month using folios developed specifically for northeast Iowa. The folios feature a different local food each month and provide information for parents and students. · Read the entire article.
Eleven Schools receive Farm to School Grants VT Digger Published 01/22/2010
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture in partnership with the Vermont Farm to School Network, recently announced the recipients of the 2010 Farm to School grants at a special ceremony at the Statehouse cafeteria. The Vermont Farm to School grant program is in its fourth year and works to improve kids’ diets by linking local producers and schools. The grant program encourages schools to engage students in their local food system by incorporating local food and farm education in their cafeterias, classrooms and communities. · Read the entire article.
Businesses Find Improved Work Environment and Health With Green by Sheila Regan Twin Cities Daily Planet Published 01/21/2010
A few school districts in Minnesota have been recognized recently for their efforts in creating healthier, more locally grown meals for school lunches. In March, St. Paul Schools will complete its 18 month pilot program in finding new and innovative ways to create a more local, sustainable and healthy school lunch program. Meanwhile Mary Anderson, the Culinary Director of Wayzata Public Schools, received the Silver Leadership Award from the National Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Award program on January 10. · Read the entire article.
$25 MILLION FOR NEW SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT by USDA USDA Online Published 01/15/2010
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $25 million in grants to help schools operating a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) replace outdated equipment with new, energy efficient, appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and other food service related equipment. The new funding, authorized in accordance with Section 7(a)(2) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(a)(2)), is a one-time fiscal year 2010 appropriation to State educational agencies. · Read the entire article.
People on the Move for Jan. 14, 2010 by N/A DesMoinesRegister.com Published 01/14/2010
Charlie Fazio has joined Re/Max Opportunities. Fazio had been with Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group. Lynn Fallon has joined the National Center for Appropriate Technology as the Midwest regional lead agency farm-to-school network coordinator. This is a project of the National Farm to School Network. Fallon has been working with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition as a statewide grassroots organizer in Iowa since May 2009. · Read the entire article.
Recent Obsessions: Candied bacon, jigsaw puzzles, handbags, fantasy chocolate, love soup by N/A 77 Square Published 01/12/2010
Candied bacon was one of the stand-out dishes at the REAP Farm to School “Pork-Off” benefit on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Weary Traveler. Mike Kiener, food manager at Barriques, developed the recipe: He coats applewood-smoked bacon in a dry rub of brown sugar and about 14 herbs and spices, including chili pepper; then bakes it to a crisp, cuts it into two-inch slices and dips them in dark chocolate. Yes, it’s divine. Chewy, salty, sweet and fatty, all in one bite. · Read the entire article.
Pork-Off chefs and guests choose pig over pigskin at the Weary Traveler by Kyle Nabilcy Isthmus Daily Published 01/11/2010
For a couple hours on Sunday, while the Green Bay Packers were fighting for their playoff lives, The Weary Traveler put on a good impression of a bar that actually has televisions. Over a hundred people filed hungrily into the front half of the restaurant to take part in the first ever Pork-Off. Chefs from eight kitchens in the Madison area put their best spin on pork shoulder, plus a few bonus goodies. · Read the entire article.
IATP congratulates Wayzata Public Schools nutrition leader for national award by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Published 01/11/2010
· Read the entire article.
Call for Site Visits by USDA Farm to School Tactical Teams by USDA Food & Nutrition Services Published 01/08/2010
· Read the entire article.
Leaders of the Pack: Farm-to-School Programs Feed Kids Across the Country by Kathy Shorr Simple Steps Published 01/04/2010
Quietly, whether in rural communities or large cities, schools are finding novel ways to feed kids healthier, locally grown food, often cultivated by the children themselves as part of the curriculum. You might picture this as the province of wealthy school districts only, but the hundreds of farm-to-school programs across the country include places like the Baltimore public schools, where over 83% of the students qualify for free- and reduced-rate meals. · Read the entire article.
Cultivating Hawaii by Tiana Kamen Edible Hawaiian Islands Published 00/01/2010
· Read the entire article.