Oklahoma Profile

The Oklahoma Food Policy Council was established October 2001 as a joint project of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry including a diverse group of members and ad hoc participants. The first initial project of the council was to examine the potential for increasing the amount of Oklahoma-grown foods being used by state institutions including all 540 school districts in the state. The response to the idea was overwhelmingly positive. The survey data indicated that over two thirds of the institutions, which the majority were schools, either agree or strongly agreed that they would purchase food from local producers if price and quality were competitive and available.

Based on the results of the survey and the increasing need to address child nutrition and economic opportunities for local farmers, the council formed a partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Education Child Nutrition Services, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Commodities Division, USDA, Department of Defense (DoD), a watermelon grower and produce company. Pilot programs were established in 4 school districts in 2003 and 6 school districts in 2004 providing locally grown seedless watermelons to the schools to study acceptance and logistics of the farm to school program. The kids, food service and teachers loved the watermelons. After two years of pilot projects, many school districts were calling wanting to participate in the program. As a council, the need was seen to expand the program to a statewide level at the same time the children’s advocacy groups Fit Kids Coalition and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy recognized the potential that the program had to improve the eating habits and health of Oklahoma schoolchildren. Through the efforts of these groups and others, the Oklahoma legislature created and funded the Oklahoma Farm to School Program Act in June 2006. The program is designed to include locally grown produce in the school lunch and breakfast program along with a very hands-on approach that would include gardening, farm & farmers market visits, educational and nutritional curriculum, cooking classes and more.

The coordinator of the program is housed out of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry and will work with schools and with farmers to expand the program.

Visit the Oklahoma Farm to School Program Website.