Publications

All Publications

Case Studies & Feasibility Analysis

Evaluation Tools & Reports

Buying & Selling Local Foods

How to Get Started

Curricular Resources

Other Resources

Buying & Selling Local Foods

National

Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers Bill McKelvey, Mary Hendrickson, Joe Parcell
Fri, Jan 11th, 2008
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Guide to Serving Local Food on Your Menu Glynwood Center
Mon, Apr 30th, 2007
The Guide is a primer to help foodservice managers and directors, caterers, chefs, restaurateurs and others consider creative ways to incorporate local food products into almost any foodservice setting. Topics include where to begin, identifying sources of supply, developing relationships with farmers, working through existing distributors, and things to consider about the regional food system.  Chefs, institutional purchasing agents, and others share their experience in short case studies within the 32-page guide.
Available in PDF form.  Printed copies will  be provided with a charge for postage and handling.  For more information, please contact info@glynwood.org or 845-265-3338.
Download

Minnesota School Food Survey Sam Hurst
Fri, Mar 13th, 2009
Last fall, JoAnne Berkenkamp from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy teamed up with the Minnesota School Nutrition Association to survey school food-service directors about their interest in direct farm-to-school marketing. Sixty-nine Minnesota school districts responded. They were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, but also cautious.

Guide to Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy Matthew Buck
Thu, Nov 1st, 2007
The guide is intended to help universities, colleges, hospitals, and other institutions ? as well as those advocating for food system change ? create, promote and implement practical sustainable food purchasing policies.

Fresh from the Farm: Using Local Foods in Afterschool and Summer Nutrition Programs Alexis Bylander and Crystal FitzSimons
Tue, Jan 8th, 2008
Food is an important part of any quality afterschool or summer program. It helps attract children to the program and ensures that they have the energy to fully participate in all of the educational and enrichment activities. The nutrition quality and appeal of the meals and snacks is crucial. One creative strategy to improve quality and appeal is to make local produce part of the meals and snacks, and Farm to School programs are one key strategy to do that. This guide outlines strategies and approaches for accessing local products such as working with an organization that is already using local produce, collaborating with the area food service director or operating the Farm to School program independently.
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Applying Geographic Preference in Procurements for Child Nutrition Programs USDA: Food and Nutrition Service
Wed, Jul 9th, 2008
This memo provides information on a provision to encourage institutions operating Child Nutrition Programs to purchase unprocessed locally grown and locally raised agricultural products.
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Bid Local: Local Farm Projects Allowed in School Bids National Farm to School Network
Tue, Aug 5th, 2008
With the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill, schools can now use a local preference in big language. This handout describes the specifics as to what is included in unprocessed agricultural products.
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10 Reasons to Buy Local Food
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
A one page document that explains how local food...tastes better, is better for you, preserves genetic diversity, is GMO-free, supports local farm family, builds community, preserves open space, keeps your taxes in check, supports a clean environment and benefits wildlife, and is about the future.
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Nuevos Mercados Para Su Cosecha (New Ways to Sell What You Grow) Community Food Security Coalition and the National Center for Appropriate Technology
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Click here to download the publication in PDF format [1M] or contact NCAT at (800) ASK-NCAT for a printed copy. Click here to download the audio recording (mp3) of this publication This Spanish-language publication details strategies for farmers interested in marketing their products to local institutions such as schools, colleges, hospitals, retirement homes and day care centers. Included is a resource list of organizations around the country that work with Latino farmers looking for ways to market their products. Click here for a description of this publication and other resources in Spanish (Descripción de esta publicación y otros recursos en Español)

School Garden Q&As United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Wed, Jul 29th, 2009
In this memo, USDA recently clarified that school food service funds may be used to purchase seeds, gardening tools, fertilizer, etc for school gardens. Such funds may also be devoted to starting and maintaining gardens on school property and schools are allowed to purchase produce from the gardens, even if the garden is managed and maintained by another school organization.

Schools Gardens and Food Service Bon Appetit Management Company
Tue, Sep 22nd, 2009
Bon Appétit has developed a guide for aspiring student farmers to help them build good business relationships with their best potential customers?the college food service providers that are right in their backyards. The guide will be made available to students in garden groups all over the country and on the company?s website. www.circleofresponsibility.com/student-garden-guide

USDA Food & Nutrition Services - Regulations & Policy USDA Food & Nutrition Services
Wed, Jan 20th, 2010

Small Farm / School Meals Initiaitve - Town Hall Meetings USDA Food & Nutrition Services
Wed, Mar 1st, 2000
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Bring Small Farms and Local Schools Together
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California

Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Fac Vanessa Zajfen
Sat, Mar 1st, 2008
The Center for Food & Justice has released the findings from a year-long planning grant titled Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Facilitate and Scale Up the Distribution of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. The California Endowment funded CFJ for a year long planning grant to explore the most effective strategies and opportunities to scale up the distribution of locally grown fruits and vegetables in Southern California. Our work sought to identify solutions to barriers that have prevented more institutions from buying local and supporting local agriculture. Based on the project findings CFJ has developed multiple strategies to overcome identified barriers that will be undertaken by CFJ over the coming years. For a summary of the 5 distribution models that CFJ will be pursuing, please look for it under this section of publications. Please contact Vanessa Zajfen with any questions, comments or concerns.
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Food Access & Distribution Solutions: 5 Strategies for Southern California Vanessa Zajfen
Sat, Mar 1st, 2008
Based on the report Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region: Barriers and Opportunities to Facilitate and Scale Up the Distribution of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, The Center for Food & Justice has developed 5 strategies which attempt to address some fundamental and basic issues with the distribution of locally grown foods. CFJ will be working throughout the next few years to assist project partners and other organizations to implement these strategies in the Southern California region.
Download

Georgia

Georgia Organics Local Food Guide
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Download our popular local food guide for a listing of farms, markets and businesses supporting sustainable foods and farms in Georgia. Great place to find a farmer for a school field trip!

Iowa

Local Food Connections: Food Service Considerations Iowa State University Extension
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
This publication provides farmers, school administrators, and institutional food-service planners with contact information and descriptions of existing programs that have made these connections between local farmers and local school lunchrooms, college dining halls, or cafeterias in other institutions. To help communities initiate similar programs, this publication includes resource lists

Revealing the Secrets of an all Iowa Meal Gary Huber and Andrea Woldridge
Mon, Mar 1st, 2004
A Case Study of the Local Food Brokering Project, Practical Farmers of Iowa. Funded by the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Program, USDA.

Maine

Hancock County Farm to School Directory Heather Albert-Knopp
Thu, Mar 1st, 2007
A directory of Maine farms that are interested in selling to schools in Hancock County.
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Massachusetts

Massachusetts Farms: Directory for School Food Services
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
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Michigan

Purchasing Michigan Products: A Step By Step Guide Betty Izumi and Colleen Matts
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Developed with input from an advisory committee and school food service directors like you, this publication includes useful information and practical tools on incorporating Michigan foods into your school meals program.

Minnesota

Dollars, Calories, and the Reinvention of the Lunch Lady Julie Kendrick
Mon, Apr 6th, 2009
"The jiggly arms. The hanky corsages. The hair nets. One dry scoop of mashed potatoes thunked onto a Melmac plate, followed by the barked order: ?Keep the line moving!? Most of us have an image of lunch ladies that harks back to the antediluvian days of our childhood. But times have changed, and the lunch ladies of old are now known as food service directors. Often responsible for multi-million dollar budgets, they are empowered to feed everyone at school ? the picky eaters, the clean plate club, the chronically obese, and the habitually underfed ? all within the tightest of budget allocations...."

MN School Food Service Director Survey: Farm to School Minnesota School Nutrition Association and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Fri, Dec 19th, 2008
This survey was developed by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy?s (IATP) Local Foods Program to gauge the interest of Minnesota?s K‐12 Food Service Directors in serving locally grown food. The results, summarized below, will inform the work of the MSNA Farm to School Task Force. A joint effort of IATP and MSNA, the Task Force was launched in fall 2008 to advance Farm to School efforts in Minnesota. The online survey was conducted over a one‐month period from mid‐November to mid‐December 2008. Roughly 20 percent of the School District Food Service Directors in Minnesota (69 out of 335) responded. For the purposes of this survey, ?local? was defined as food that is grown or raised in Minnesota. Throughout the survey, respondents were asked to use a 1‐7 rating scale and the values are defined for each question.

Montana

Grow, Eat, and Know: A Resource Guide to Food and Farming in Missoula County Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003

As one component of the Missoula County Community Food Assessment, this guide is a collection of organizations, programs and businesses that are involved in the Missoula County food system--the complex web that incorporates all things food, from growing to distribution to eating.

Within the pages of the guide, you will find brief descriptions and contact information for a variety of groups. You'll find entries for agriculture and food assistance groups, but also for land trusts and business development. All these groups play an important part in supporting the Missoula County food system.

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Our Foodshed in Focus: Missoula County Food and Agriculture by the Numbers
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
As one of our components of the MCCFA, this report utilizes existing statistical data, primarily from U.S. census reports and other government sources, to describe patterns in the local food system and how these have changed over time. Seven chapters, all authored by students, detail relevant trends in the following areas: demographics; agricultural production; environment; food distribution; employment in farming and food-related businesses; consumption; and food security and access. Each chapter also discusses why these trends might be occurring and explains why these measures are important.

Food Matters: Farm Viability and Food Consumption in Missoula County Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
Mon, Nov 1st, 2004


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New Jersey

New Jersey Farmers New Jersey Farmers
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

North Carolina

North Carolina Farm Fresh
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
North Carolina Farm Fresh: North Carolina Farm Fresh is a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. It is designed to help consumers find the freshest locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project Website
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is a non-profit organization that supports farmers and rural communities in the mountains of western North Carolina and the southern Appalachians by providing education, mentoring, promotion, web resources, and community and policy development. Our mission is to create and expand regional community-based and integrated food systems that are locally owned and controlled, environmentally sound, economically viable and health-promoting. Our vision is a future food system throughout the mountains of North Carolina and the southern Appalachians that provides a safe and nutritious food supply for all segments of society; that is produced, marketed and distributed in a manner that enhances human and environmental health; and that adds economic and social value to rural and urban communities.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Food Connection 2003: A Directory of Agricultural Producers, Crops, and Institutional B Shawn Campbell
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The backbone of Oklahoma?s rich heritage has always been the family farm, but due to consolidation and depressed prices, today?s family farms are disappearing at an alarming rate. On October 16th, 2001, a group of Oklahomans charged by Oklahoma?s Commissioner of Agriculture set out to reverse the course of this epidemic. Citing an opportunity to benefit Oklahoma farmers by opening new markets, the Oklahoma Food Policy Council was formed. The council is a joint project of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

Farm to School Program Great Plains RC&D
Sun, Dec 1st, 2002
Local grown & milled whole wheat flour being used as a product in the farm to school program.

Busting a Myth: Farmers' Market Produce is Fresh and Affordable Kerr Center and CSREES
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Produce items grown by Three Springs Farm and sold at the Tulsa Cherry Street Farmers' Market in 2005 were either cheaper than or comparably priced* to produce sold at Tulsa supermarkets.
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Farm to School – Tips, Tools & Guidelines for Food Distribution & Food Safety Chris Kirby, Rodney Holcomb, Lynn Brandenberger, William McGlynn & Anh Vo
Thu, Jan 21st, 2010
Since Farm to School is not a “one size fits all” program, this manual was developed from surveys, research & experience to include tip & tools for successful Farm to School Distribution and simple food safety protocol to follow for farms, schools and school gardens. Two new downloadable calculators have been developed. Distribution Cost Calculator – will help producers understand the true costs of produce delivery and assist in determining a “ farm gate” value for their crops and Produce Calculator – which will help farmers and schools determine the amount of produce needed for the schools based on number of servings and will also calculate the per serving cost. For a hard copy of the manual, please contact Chris Kirby, chris.kirby@oda.state.ok.us

Pennsylvania

The New Farm: Farm to Farm Know How New Farm
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
The New Farm: Farm to Farm Know How from the Rodale Institute provides access to a database of farms as part of a farm locator program. Specify your needs and the program will generate a list of farms that might be able to help you meet these needs. Access this link by clicking here. Or access information about farm to school programs through the New Farms site by clicking here.

Pennsylvania Agricultural Map: Promoting Pennsylvania Agriculture
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Ag Map: Pennsylvania’s Online Agricultural Directory.

Tennessee

Local Table Marne Duke and Lisa Shively
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
A guide to food and farming in Middle Tennessee (A quartlery magazine format)

Washington

The Green Book Leslie Zenz, Kelli Sanger and David Wides
Sun, Jan 1st, 2006
This publication contains information about the regulatory landscape governing the sales of farm products in Washington State. It is a comprehensive guide to direct marketing strategies and contains an extensive resource section of organizations and relevant publications.
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Small Farm and Direct Marketing Program Website The Washington State Department of Agriculture
Wed, Nov 30th, 2005
The Washington State Department of Agriculture Small Farm and Direct Marketing Program offers technical assistance to farmers and institutional buyers in farm to cafeteria programs. Their website serves as an important farm to school resource.

Map of Washington Farmers Who Sell Directly to Consumers Giles O?Dell, Melissa Roberts, Shonie Schlot zhauer & Jackson Sillars
Sat, Jan 1st, 2005
This Farm Map is a listing of farms in Thurston County that sell their goods directly to consumers. It?s a tool for making that direct connection; to help you find products grown, raised and made by your neighbors.
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Washington State Office of State Procurement Department of General Administration
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
The Department of General Administration develops and administers contracts for goods and services on behalf of state agencies, colleges, universities, select non-profit organizations, and local governments.

Wisconsin

Farm Fresh Atlas REAP Food Group
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
This atlas produced by REAP Food Group lists farms and food-related businesses that sell their goods directly to customers in southern Wisconsin and enables you to narrow your search by far, location, and product. Click here for more information

Case Studies & Feasibility Analysis

National

Going Local: Paths to Success for Farm to School Programs Anupama Joshi, Marion Kalb and Moira Beery
Thu, Feb 1st, 2007
A brand new resource from the National Farm to School Program, Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition. With case studies from eight states - California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hamphire, North Carolina, and Oregon, the publication provides a snapshot of the diverse ways in which farm to school is making a difference nationwide.

West Coast Direct Marketing Summit Presentations Available Agricultural Marketing Service
Mon, Aug 31st, 2009
USDA?s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today released West Coast Direct Marketing Summit: Case Study Presentations. These presentations were made at The Direct Farm Marketing Summit: Developing Sustainable Foodsheds to Enhance Food Access and Nutrition, which brought together government agencies, nonprofit organizations and farmers to investigate ways farmers can sell directly to the public.

California

The Crunch Lunch Manual Renata Brillinger, Jeri Ohmart, and Gail Feenstra
Sat, Mar 1st, 2003
A case study of the Davis Joint Unified School District Farmers Market Salad Bar Pilot Program and a Fiscal Analysis Model
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The San Francisco Farm-to-School Report: Results from the 2003 Feasibility Study Rimkus, Rimkus, Paula Jones, and Fernando Ona
Thu, Jan 1st, 2004
Download

Colorado

Healthy Kids and Healthy Economies: Results from the 2006 Farm to School Survey of Colorado Food Ser Colorado Institute of Public Policy and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Farm to School Workgroup
Wed, Nov 30th, 2005
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La Plata County Food Assessment Growing Partners
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The Growing Partners of Southwest Colorado works to promote a more sustainable local food system. In October of 2005, the USDA awarded the partnership with funding to complete a yearlong food study to assess food security in La Plata County.

Florida

Florida Farm to School Case Study Compiled by Alison Harmon
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The New North Florida Cooperative began by selling farm fresh produce to 13 schools in Gadsden County, Florida. In six years, the marketing efforts have increased so that the Cooperative now sells to 15 school districts in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Through these districts, they are serving 300,000 students! The farmers focus on producing three to four main items, on a seasonal basis, and sell to schools year-round. The items are incorporated into menu planning, generally as a side dish or as a fresh fruit dessert. The Cooperative has developed a good reputation by providing high-quality produce, prompt deliveries, fair prices and for their courteous professionalism. They refer to this as "relationship marketing". The positive word-of-mouth has been very effective in opening the door to the program in other school districts.

Healthy Farms, Healthy Kids: Evaluating the Barriers and Opportunities for Farm-to-School Programs Andrea Azuma and Andrew Fisher
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Healthy Farms, Healthy Kids: Evaluating the Barriers and Opportunities for Farm-to-School Programs. Azuma, Andrea and Andrew Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition, January 2001.
A case study of the New North Florida Cooperative Farm to School Program. Executive summary on-line at www.foodsecurity.org. Order by e-mailing asfisher@aol.com, or by calling (310) 822-5410, or faxing (310) 822-1440.

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003
A case study of the farm to school project initiated by the North Florida Marketing Cooperative (pages 30-33). (PDF)
Download

Iowa

It's a win-win situation The Extension Connection
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001

A movement is afoot to improve the economic stability of Iowa's small farmers while improving the long-term health of school children. It's a win-win initiative called "farm to school."

Kentucky

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003
A case study of the farm to school project in Kentucky (p. 35). (PDF)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts: Sowing the Seeds in Farms and Schools
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
A case study of the Massachusetts Farm to School Program in "Going Local: Paths to Success for Farm to School Programs" (pg 12)

Farm to School Report: Feasibility Study for Boston Public Schools
Sat, Dec 1st, 2007
In 2006 The Food Project (TFP) began conversations with the Director of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) for the Boston Public Schools (BPS), Helen Mont-Ferguson, to discuss the possibility of incorporating fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables into meals served in the BPS. These conversations illuminated a number of barriers that currently discourage procurement of locally grown fruits, vegetables and other healthy food products by FNS. However, what also emerged in these discussions was a strong interest and enthusiasm by food service staff and leadership for such a change to food service operations in the BPS.

Michigan

Executive Summary of the Results of the Michigan Food Service Directors Survey
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

Executive Summary of the results of the Michigan Food Service Directors survey. (76KB, Word Document.)

Minnesota

Making the Farm / School Connection: Opportunities and Barriers to Greater Use of Locally-grown Prod JoAnne Berkenkamp
Sun, Jan 1st, 2006
Report explores the feasibility of expanding fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables in Minnesota's public K-12 schools.
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Minnesota School Foodservice Survey - Farm to School
Fri, Dec 19th, 2008
Download

Missouri

Cape Girardeau School District - A Case Study Mary Hendrickson, University of Missouri
Thu, Jun 1st, 2006
Cape Girardeau School District's Experience with Missouri Foods. Based on questions and answers with Lisa Elfrink, Nutrition Services Coordinator  and experiences with other food service coordinators.
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New Hampshire

New Hampshire: Get Smart, Eat Local, A is for Apples Anupama Joshi, Marion Kalb and Moira Beery
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
New Hampshire Case Study in "Going Local: Paths to Success for Farm to School Programs (pg 17)

NH Farm to School Program Highlights: Our First Three Years
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Connecting New Hampshire farms and schools by integrating production, school food procurement, and school curriculum.

New Hampshire Farm to School Get Smart Eat Local 10-District Project Case Study NH Farm to School Program
Fri, Dec 1st, 2006

New Mexico

Cooking with Kids: Case Study
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001



New Mexico Farm to School case study Compiled by Alison Harmon
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

Three Santa Fe public schools are participating in this project, two elementary and one high school. One of the elementary schools has a salad bar every day. The meal at this site includes a meat entree three times a week and a vegetarian item twice a week. The other elementary school offers a side salad of mixed greens, sunflower sprouts, and other seasonal items with lunch. The high school has a separate salad bar; students have the choice of the salad bar or a hot lunch.

Download

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003
A case study of the Cooking with Kids Program and Farm to School Project in Santa Fe (page 11-13). (PDF)

New York

Cooking with Kids Case Study Patricia Thonney and Erica Reinhardt
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Cooking With Kids Case Study. Thonney, Patricia and Erica Reinhardt. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University 2004. (PDF)

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003
A case study of the farm to school project in New York (p. 43). (PDF)

North Carolina

Synopsis of the North Carolina Farm to School Program
Thu, Feb 9th, 2006
The Farm-to-School Program is getting fresh locally grown produce from the farmers directly to the schools. This program was formed through a partnership with the Markets and Food Distribution Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the Department of Defense.

GROWING LOCAL: Expanding the Western North Carolina Food and Farm Economy Laura D. Kirby, Charlie Jackson, and Allison Perrett
Sat, Sep 1st, 2007
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project released the results of a multi-year feasibility study that looks at the potential for increasing local consumption of Western North Carolina- grown food and farm products.

Oklahoma

5-A-Day in 5 Years
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
A flyer from a campaign from the Kerr Center and the Community Food Projects Program of the USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES).
Download

Oregon

The Abernethy Scratch Kitchen Model Baseline Assessment Karrie Stevens Thomas
Fri, Dec 1st, 2006
Download

New on the Menu
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Twelve page summary of the 2005?06 Abernethy Elementary Farm to School project coordinated by Ecotrust.

The Spork Report- Increasing the supply and consumption of local foods in Portland Public Schools. Multnomah Food Policy Council
Mon, Jun 6th, 2005
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Bend LaPine Schools Farm to School Program Mylen Bohle
Thu, Feb 1st, 2007
Farm to school is seen as a central Oregon niche marketing opportunity, where produce is available to the Bend LaPine schools well after the Bend Farmers Market closes for the season.

Pennsylvania

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Thu, Jan 1st, 2004
A case study of the farm to school project in Pennsylvania (p. 37). (PDF)

Vermont

Farm to School: Case Studies and Resources for Success Compiled by Alison Harmon
Thu, Jan 1st, 2004
A case study of the farm to school project in Vermont (p. 19). (PDF)
Download

Analysis of School Food and Local Purchasing in Vermont Schools, 2003?2004
Wed, Dec 1st, 2004
This report is a first attempt to quantify current, and potential, local food purchasing by schools in Vermont during the 2003?2004 school year. A literature review and situational analysis of other economic analyses of school food purchasing nationwide was undertaken in the beginning of this report. This will provide a context for this Vermont local purchasing analysis. The micro-analysis of the study group (ten schools and the largest Vermont school district with nine schools), offered an opportunity to, in detail, analyze the purchasing of fresh produce during the 2003?2004 school year. A macro-analysis was accomplished through interviewing distributors which currently deliver to Vermont schools.
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Washington

A Salad Bar Featuring Organic Choices: Revitalizing the School Nutrtion Program Paul Flock, Cheryl Petra, Vanessa Ruddy, Joseph Peterangelo
Tue, Apr 1st, 2003
Download

Wisconsin

Farm-to-school program provides learning experience Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
Thu, Jan 1st, 2004

With childhood obesity on the rise, parents are paying more attention to what their children eat at school. The Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch project is working with Chavez, Lincoln and Shorewood Elementary Schools in Madison to bring fresh, locally grown produce to school lunchrooms?which should please both parents and kids.

Curricular Resources

National

The Healthy School Meals Resource System Website The Healthy School Meals Resource System
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
The Healthy School Meals Resource System’s website serves as a farm to school resource, including information on educational activities such as school garden materials.

List of Chefs Willing to Volunteer Healthy School Meals Resource System
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
A list of chefs willing to volunteer their time as part of a food and nutrition education program.

?All About Farmers? Markets: A Teaching Guide for Classrooms, Camps, and Community Programs,? Peggy Sissel-Phelan, Ed.D.
Thu, Dec 1st, 2005
A useful resource to help children make the connection between the land, the food we eat, and our health and well-being. The guide is 116 pages of original games, songs, and activities for PreK - 2^nd grade classrooms, and includes ideas for field trips and parent involvement.

Fresh from the Farm TIME for Kids
Thu, May 1st, 2008
TIME for Kids Magazine Teachers Guide on Farm to School

Grow Your Own Food Made Easy: Nutritious Organic Produce from Your Own Garden - A Step-by-Step Guide
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Grow Your Own Food Made Easy is the only low-cost guide of its kind that integrates nutrition and gardening. Its nutritional content meets USDA nutritional guidelines, as well as those of the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. All gardening information is Earth-friendly and state-of-the-art. Some of you may already know about our 32-page composting guide Home Composting Made Easy. Over 1 million copies are in print; distributed by hundreds of municipalities, waste management districts, state governments, and educational organizations throughout North America! (Go to: www.homecompostingmadeeasy.com). We believe that Grow Your Own Food Made Easy is a publication and idea whose time has come, for the millions of people who are now just getting into food gardening (or re-dedicating time and energy to it) as a need for food and financial security. It is perfect for any organizations, educators or businesses dedicated to food security, food independence and food sustainability, be it for direct distribution and/or for fundraising. Please contact us for special availability to non-retailers. You can view GYOF, including 18 sample pages (.pdf) at www.onesanctuary.com. You can also email us at peace@onesanctuary.com.

CATCH
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
CATCH was the largest school based health promotion program ever done in the US - as a coordinated nutrition education - employing Go, SLOW , WHOA diet concepts to help children choose healthier foods and now utilized as part of CATCH along with the CATCH - EAT SMART Guide for school nutrition service providers and also CATCH Physical Education K-8. CATCH builds alliance with school staff, parents, community and administrators to focus on health, nutrition and physical activity. Certified CATCH Trainers also help schools and districts to build their coordinated school health efforts. And, most importantly, CATCH makes nutrition learning and physical activity FUN!

Cooking With Kids
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
An order form for various curricular resources K-6, including guides and a DVD.
Download

Fundamentals of Organic Farming and Gardening An Instructor?s Guide - Revised for 2009 Alexander McGregor, Lynn Pugh, and Jerry Larson
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Georgia Organics' curriculum on organic and sustainable growing is now free online. Intended for use by university extension agents, master gardeners, and high school educators, the program is the first of its kind in the state. It can be viewed online for free or it costs $10 as CD-Rom.

Family Cook-In Toolkit
Sun, Feb 7th, 2010
First, download our Screening Toolkit. (Go to: http://whatsonyourplateproject.org/blog/takeaction/toolkit). It has all the stuff you need to have a fun and delicious Family Cook-In! Second, watch What's on Your Plate? at 2:00 p.m. on Discovery's Planet Green. (Go to http:planetgreen.channelfinder.net to find your local channel). Third, check out the games and activities in our Screening Toolkit. Fourth, cook and eat together! Get everyone in the kitchen chopping, stirring, pouring and baking. Then sit down together for some fresh and yummy home-cooked food. Think food justice is too tricky for kids? Think again. What's On Your Plate? proves that not only can kids understand the issues, they can actually teach other kids about how they are what they eat. The film follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain. Sadie and Safiyah take a close look at food systems in New York City and its surrounding areas. With the camera as their companion, the girl guides talk to each other, food activists, farmers, new friends, storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates. According to Michael Pollan: ""What's On Your Plate?" is exactly the film we need now." And Alice Waters says: "It was an amazing experience to hear kids talking about these issues. This movie can have a real impact on the way we think about what we’re eating." Don't miss this chance to see this witty and provocative film on national television! Join in the conversation on how we can change what we eat, and in the process, change our world. Visit our website for more information on the film and how you can get involved. www.whatsonyourplateproject.com Can't make the Family Cook-In! broadcast? No problem. The film will be showing throughout the week, with additional broadcasts on: Saturday February 6th, 2010 at 10 pm Thursday February 11th at 11 pm Friday February 12th at 7 am Friday February 12th at 3 pm
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Whats On Your Plate? Tool Kit Discovery Channel Planet Green
Sun, Feb 7th, 2010
Join families across the country for a Family Cook-In! on Sunday, February 7th and spend an afternoon learning with your kids about food - what it's made of, where it come from and how to enjoy every bite.
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California

The Growing Classroom Roberta Jaffe and Gary Appel
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Garden and nutrition activity guide

Science Exploration Units Life Lab Science Program
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Activity guides for garden-based exploration, K-5 grades

Connecticut

Pick Your Own Fruits and Vegetables Connecticut Grown
Mon, Dec 1st, 2003

Informational Brochure

Massachusetts

French Fries, and the Food System Sarah Coblyn
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
This agricultural curriculum features powerful, original lessons written and developed by The Food Project's growers and educators. Organized by season, the material teaches youth how to develop a deep understanding of and appreciation for the land and local food systems. Lessons can be done both indoors and outdoors and can be easily adapted by instructors working in school-based plots, urban food lots, and environmental education programs.

New Mexico

The New Mexico Agriculture in the Classroom Program New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Sponsored by the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Many resources for tying agriculture in to the classroom teachings and farm to school programs.  Many lessons outline PASS objectives for the state of Oklahoma.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Agriculture in the Classroom
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
For teachers: Integrating fun-filled, hands-on agricultural projects into existing curriculum. Receiving make-and-take projects and ready to use materials for the classroom. Gaining a network of teachers and agricultural resource people locally and across the state.

Evaluation Tools & Reports

National

A Growing Movement: A Decade of Farm to School in California Anupama Joshi and Moira Beery
Mon, Oct 1st, 2007
A Growing Movement: A Decade of Farm to School in California is a brand new resource from the California Farm to School Program at the Center for Food & Justice. The farm to school movement began in California more than 10 years ago. This report tells the story of work undertaken by farm to school proponents in California and chronicles the emergence of the program, and the impacts it has had on students, farmers, and communities around the state.

Lessons and Impacts of the Farm to School Program Moira Beery
Wed, Dec 5th, 2007
This presentation explores the growth of Farm to School programs nationally and the impacts they have made.
Download

Bearing Fruit: Farm to School Program Evaluation Resources & Recommendations Anupama Joshi & Andrea Misako Azuma
Wed, Apr 15th, 2009
Released in Spring 2009, Bearing Fruit is a comprehensive guide to Farm to School program evaluation with highlights of the overall impacts of farm to school for stakeholders?teachers, food service, farmers, parents, policy makers, and community?providing excellent resources and tools to incorporate when assessing a program. Hard copies are available for the cost of shipping by contacting Anupama Joshi at ajoshi@oxy.edu

Setting the Record Straight: Nutritionists Define Healthful Food Strategic Alliance and Prevention Institute
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Setting the Record Straight, puts forth a definition of healthful food that looks beyond nutrients to acknowledge that truly healthful food comes from a food system where food is produced, processed, transported, and marketed in ways that are environmentally sound, sustainable and just.

Wellness Policy Tracking Made Easy
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Wellness policy implementation has just gotten easier! Action for Healthy Kids has added a monitoring component to its 8-step Wellness Policy Tool to help school districts improve nutrition and physical activity practices. This new, web-based tool is fully customizable and includes a scoring system to evaluate progress, and links to resources for areas of the policy that need improvement. "Because this tool is organized in a linear fashion and fairly comprehensive, including coordinated school health components in addition to nutrition and physical activity, it makes it easy to consider ways to improve our implementation and monitoring plan," says Jennie McCary, wellness coordinator for Albuquerque Public Schools and president-elect of the New Mexico Dietetic Association. Click here for the monitoring component of AFHK's Wellness Policy Tool, and to register for a webinar on March 23 or 26 to learn how to help your school monitor their wellness policy.

California

Fresh From the Farm and Into the Classroom Haase, Margaret, Andrea Azuma, Robert Gottlieb, and Mark Vallianatos
Thu, Jan 1st, 2004
Utilizing a model called Community Supported Agriculture that ties consumers directly to a local or regional farm, this LAUSD program, entitled the “Fresh From the Farm Pilot Project,” has been able to establish a direct connection between the classroom and a Southern California organic farm. The result is a unique, hands-on learning experience for the students, as well as increased income for local, organic agriculture.
Download

Colorado

Healthy Kids, Healthy Farms : Results from the 2008 Colorado Producer Survey Colorado Institute of Public Policy and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Farm to School Workgroup Re
Fri, Oct 10th, 2008
Download

Missouri

Building School Foodservice Demand for Products Grown, Raised and Manufactured in Missouri Cynthia Haskins
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Download

New Mexico

2007 Farm to School Survey Le Adams, Jimmy Purvis
Sat, May 5th, 2007
Download

New York

New York State Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Distribution Project NY Farms!
Sun, Jan 1st, 2006

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Farm-to-School Report, Including the Oklahoma Institutional Food Service Survey Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, & D
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001

The Oklahoma Food Policy Council is a joint project of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and Drake University, in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Pennsylvania

Kindergarten Initiative Evaluation Report The Food Trust
Thu, Feb 1st, 2007
Download

Vermont

Impact Assessment of Vermont Farm2School Program ? Executive Summary John Ryan
Sat, Apr 1st, 2006
The driving goal in the Farm2School initiative is to promote healthier children and a healthier Vermont food system. Buying more fresh local produce should be seen as a means to achieving those goals. In the short-term, the capacity of the food system to increase purchases of Vermont products is limited. At whatever level of purchase, the value of buying fresh local food is greatly enhanced by the direct connection of healthy eating with a place-based nutritional and agricultural curriculum. Student participation in discovering, growing, recipe-making, cooking, and tasting these foods represents the crucial link that drives real change in eating habits. Local school food purchases alone will not change basic nutritional values nor will it serve to secure the future of local agriculture in Vermont. Vermont agriculture?s self-interest in this effort is a long-term one: their participation will develop the connection with and loyalty of the next generation of healthier-eating, Vermont consumers.

Impact Assessment of Vermont Farm2School Program ? Final Report John Ryan
Sat, Apr 1st, 2006
The analysis begins by asking a number of questions: How much Vermont farm produce and dairy product does the Vermont school food program currently purchase? What key challenges stand in the way of increasing Vermont food purchases and local Farm2School Partnerships? What actions would increase the likelihood of overcoming the challenges to reaching increased levels of activity? What represents a realistic increase in the level of Vermont farm purchases over the next five years? What represents a realistic increase in the number of local Farm2School partnerships over the next several years? What impacts would those actions have on key participants in the school food system, including farmers, school food workers, food distributors, local and state governments, parents and children?

Farm-to-School Purchasing Builds Social Equity in Vermont Benjamin King, Jane Kolodinsky, Erin Roche, Linda Berlin, Abbie Nelson, Kim Norris
Thu, Mar 19th, 2009
Statewide data from Vermont show that food service providers in low-income school districts are no less likely to purchase local foods than food service directors in high-income school districts.
Download

Virginia

Farm to School Task Force Report
Fri, Dec 1st, 2006

How to Get Started

National

The Little Green Schoolhouse: Thinking Big About Ecological Sustainability, Children The Green Schools Initiative
Wed, Jun 7th, 2006

The Little Green Schoolhouse establishes a framework that brings together a variety of school-related environmental health and sustainability issues under one conceptual and strategic roof. It documents how our current school systems are threats to our childrens' health and models of unsustainability. Drawing from a diversity of inspiring efforts going on around the country, the report also presents a broad idealistic vision of what green and healthy schools could look like. And it articulates a series of pragmatic policy recommendations, including organizing to pass school board resolutions that serve as blueprints for sustainable and healthy schools.

How Local Farmers and School Food Service Buyers Are Building Alliances Debra Tropp and Surajudeen Olowolayemo
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
On May 1, 2000, more than 180 individuals?school food service directors, State and Federal commodity procurement officials, Extension agents, members of farm cooperatives, and agricultural marketing specialists?gathered at the Georgetown College Training and Conference Center in Georgetown, KY, to share information and strategies aimed at boosting the use of locally produced fresh food in school feeding programs.  The event, entitled the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Farm/School Meals Initiative Southeast Regional Workshop, was cosponsored and organized by the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, the University of Kentucky?s Cooperative Extension Service, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.  This report summarizes the educational highlights of the workshop in an effort to help small farmers and school food service buyers throughout the country explore how they might be able to establish similar business relationships in their own communities.

Farm to School: Minnesota Toolkit for Food Service University of Minnesota
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Farm to school programs are receiving a lot of attention these days. Concern about a rise in obesity and diet-related metabolic disorders among children combined with increased interest in supporting local economies have lots of people thinking hard about the food that kids get in schools. Placing locally-grown food on school lunch plates can help spark students? interest in a healthier diet, get school food service dollars reinvested in the community, and provide concerned parents and administrators with a short, transparent, traceable route that the food traveled from farm to plate.

According to a recent survey of food service directors by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (www.agobservatory.org/library.cfm?refID=105219), many school food service directors are interested in farm to school programs, but lack time to explore options or implement new strategies. This can be an overwhelming obstacle to a food service director who is already under enormous time and budget constraints. A toolkit of ready-to-use materials could go a long way toward increasing participation in farm to school programs.

The Willmar School District in western Minnesota has gradually incorporated locally purchased food into its cafeteria menu over the last four years. In response to requests to share their information, Annette Hendrickx Derouin (Willmar?s Director of Food and Nutrition Services) and Lynn Mader (U of M Extension, Family Development) have been working with the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and an advisory team to develop an online toolkit for Minnesota school nutrition programs. The toolkit contains information and materials to assist in planning a farm to school program; sourcing, preparing, and serving local foods; and promoting the food to students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Ready-to-use items include cafeteria menus and recipes complete with nutritional information, sample newsletter and announcement pieces, posters, and tested methods for getting students to sample the food.

While most of this website toolkit is intended specifically for food service, the website also provides links to resources to learn more about farm to school programs, including classroom and community connections. Check out the website, www.mn-farmtoschool.umn.edu . For more information, contact Lynn Mader, made0036@umn.edu, 612-708-8635.

Farm to School in the Northeast: Making the Connection for Healthy Kids and Healthy Farms Jennifer Wilkins, Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, Meredith Graham, Betsey Bacelli, and Martha Goodsell
Tue, May 1st, 2007
In 200 pages, Farm to School in the Northeast provides a step-by-step guide to making farm to school connections, walking practitioners through a process from planning, to implementation and evaluation. Each chapter includes a ?Toolbox? filled with a variety of resources from assessment and evaluation forms, to sample position announcements, contracts, and flowcharts designed to help keep you organized, confront inevitable challenges and celebrate successes as you work towards your farm to school objectives.

Greening the Plate of School Lunch Moira Beery
Wed, Dec 5th, 2007
Slides from a presentation of the whys and hows of starting a Farm to School program.
Download

Mapping School Food: A Policy Guide Marlo R. Miura, Jason A. Smith, Jess Alderman
Fri, Dec 7th, 2007
Improving the school food environment can be a difficult task, and understanding school food law and policy can be a barrier to getting started. Mapping School Food was written to help legislators, advocates, parents, teachers and anyone interested in improving school food navigate school food law and policy. Mapping School Food is an innovative guide that describes school food policy from the perspective of different personnel in the school system. It also provides tools to help advocates find answers, resolve conflicts, and build consensus for improving school food in their community. Mapping School Food is available as a free download.

Farm to School Brochure Debra Eschmeyer
Thu, Mar 19th, 2009
Nourishing kids and communities: an introduction to farm to school
Download

A New Way to Look at Food and Agriculture: Community Food Systems
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
This one page document makes the idea of sustainable community food systems not only accessible, but also desirable. Looking at food and agriculture issue through the lens of community food security requires one to look at the whole food system and understand how each part affects the whole food security of a given community.
Download

Farm to School 101: Farm Aid Toolkit Farm Aid
Mon, Jun 1st, 2009
Nachos and cheese, French toast sticks, days and days of chicken nuggets. Is this what we want to nourish our children's growing minds? Summer may seem a strange time to think about the food our kids eat in school, but it's actually a great time to consider Farm to School programs. Check out Farm Aid's Farm to School 101 Toolkit for information on starting one in your area.

Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions Barbara C. Bellows, Rex Dufour, and Janet Bachmann
Sun, Dec 1st, 2002
This Resource Guide for Farm-to-School and Farm-to-Institution Programs provides farmers, school administrators, and institutional food-service planners with contact information and descriptions of existing programs that have made these connections between local farmers and local school lunchrooms, college dining halls, or cafeterias in other institutions. To help communities initiate similar programs, this publication includes resource lists.

Start a Farm in the City (Comience una Granja en la Ciudad) Rex Dufour
Wed, Jul 1st, 2009
This publication outlines some of the pros and cons related to urban farming, illustrated by the story of a young girl starting a garden in the city. It includes 12 pages of resources, with information about urban soils and soil testing resources, as well as a state by state listing of organizations which have urban ag educational programs around the country. The Spanish version is a bit longer as it includes a listing of Spanish language resources. Click here for the English version, and click here for the Spanish version.

Finding Land to Farm: Six Ways to Secure Farmland (Encontrando Tierra para Trabajar: Seis Maneras de Kendra Johnson, Rex Dufour, and Marisa Alcorta
Wed, Jul 1st, 2009
This publication, a collaboration between CA Farmlink and NCAT, highlights some common ways to lease or own land. It follows a farmer as he talks to other farmers about how they accessed land. It outlines important considerations about each of these leasing options and paths to ownership. There are 6 pages of resources listing land-linking organizations as well as websites, publications and other organizations that will be helpful to farmers seeking land to farm. Elements of a good lease are also included. Click here for the English version, and click here for the Spanish version.

Farm-to-School Factsheet
Tue, May 1st, 2007
Farm-to-School is an integrated program developing in schools across the country to teach kids about the cycles of life from seed to table. View this factsheet to see overall project goals, components of a farm-to-school program, and CAFF's farm-to-school activities.

Eat Smart—Farm Fresh! USDA Food & Nutrition Services
Thu, Dec 1st, 2005
A Guide to Buying and Serving Locally-Grown Produce in School Meals
Download

California

Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden California School Garden Network
Thu, Dec 1st, 2005
A comprehensive instructional resource for teachers, parents and schools interested in garden-based learning. This book was developed by the California School Garden Network (CGSN), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and sustain California gardens to enhance academic achievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship, community and social development.

Orange County menu of Options Vanessa Zajfen
Fri, May 9th, 2008
The following are new farm to school programming opportunities for Orange County. The farm to school programs suggested below have been specifically created for Orange County schools based on the local farm resources.
Download

Georgia

Atlanta Farm to School and Educational Garden Programs Resource Guide
Sat, Sep 1st, 2007

Chef to School workshop Georgia Organics and Mendez Foundation
Wed, Feb 25th, 2009
When students have opportunities to grow food and taste fresh fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to adopt life-long healthy diets. Chefs can play a major role in this process by providing hands-on taste testing and cooking demonstrations for students featuring local foods. This training toolkit will provide chefs with a better understanding how to deliver information to children and best practices in working in non-traditional cooking environments such as classrooms, gardens and auditoriums.

Iowa

Local Food Connections: From Farms to Schools. Iowa State University Extension
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Through direct marketing of their products, Iowa farmers and growers are forming a stronger connection with their customers and obtaining premium prices or those products. One potential direct marketing customer is the local school.

Selling to Institutions: An Iowa Farmer Robert Luedeman & Neil D. Hamilton
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
lists helpful information on insurance and legal issues for producers who want to enter institutional food markets. It was written by Des Moines attorney Robert Luedeman and Neil Hamilton from the Drake Agricultural Law Center

Michigan

Michigan Farm to School website
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Michigan Farm to School is a portal for information and a venue for sharing ideas, tools, and resources to support these and other efforts to link schools with local agriculture in Michigan.

Minnesota

Minnesota Toolkit Farm to School University of Minnesota
Fri, Dec 1st, 2006

New Jersey

New Jersey?s Quick Steps to Fruits and Vegetables Toolkit New Jersey Department of Agriculture?s Team Nutrition Project
Thu, Mar 1st, 2007
This toolkit was designed to be a cooperative project and extend the experience of increased fruit and vegetable consumption into the classroom, school cafeteria and at home. This program can be implemented in many different ways based on your school?s needs and desires.

New York

How We Started A Farm to Cafeteria Program and How You Can Start One Too
Thu, Oct 1st, 2009
This "How To" summarizes New York's farm to cafeteria success.
Download

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture gives many links relevant for anyone interested in farm to school in Pennsylvania.

Growing the Links Between Farms and Schools Clare Hinrichs, Kai Schafft, Dara Bloom, and Erin McHenry-Sorber
Sat, Nov 1st, 2008
Guidebook for Pennsylvania Farmers, Schools and Communities: Growing the Links Between Farms and Schools Interested in bringing a farm to school program to a school near you? The Center for Rural Pennsylvania?s recently released guide, Growing the Links between Farms and Schools: A How-To Guidebook for Pennsylvania Farmers, Schools and Communities, could help. The guide is aimed at schools and school districts, especially food service directors, teachers, administrators, school nurses, and school health and wellness committees. It was also written for farmers and suppliers who are interested in participating in a farm to school program but are unsure about when or how to develop relationships with local schools. The guidebook recognizes that both schools and farmers need to work together to make farm to school programs work effectively and describes a number of different ways to make connections and to start and sustain a successful farm to school program. Dr. Clare Hinrichs, Dr. Kai Schafft, Dara Bloom and Erin McHenry-Sorber of Pennsylvania State University developed the guide through a grant from the Center.
Download

Vermont

How Do We Feed Vermont?s School Children :An Insiders Guide to Vermont School Meals and How To Impro Vermont FEED
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The purpose of this primer is: ? To outline how Vermont schools currently provide meals to their children. ? To show how the Farm2School initiative is working with schools to encourage greater use of fresh local foods and helping Vermont children make wiser, healthier choices about the food they eat.

VT Farm to School: A guide for Using Local Food in Schools VT Food Education Every Day
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Includes step by step process for starting local purchasing in schools; success stories about farm-to-cafeteria relationships (K-12); seasonal recipes and menu ideas. Contact VT FEED for copies

Vermont Farm to School: A Guide for Connecting Farms to Schools and Communities VT Food Education Every Day
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Contains information and resources on: how to market farm products for use in schools; how to use a farm for education with students; hands-on, farm-based educational activities; how to connect farms to their communities. Please contact VT Feed for a copy of this booklet.

Other Resources

National

Lunch Lessons: Changing the way we feed our children Chef Ann Cooper
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001

Counties and Local Food Systems Casey Dillon
Sun, Jul 1st, 2007
This 22-page report highlights four approaches that county governments can use to strengthen their local food systems:  food policy councils, farm to school programs, infrastructure for local producers, and agriculture conservation easement programs.  It includes an overview of methods and a fairly detailed case study for each approach.The Farm to School Case study is from the Missoula Farm to School Program, MT.
Download

Farm-Raisers Vanessa Zajfen
Tue, Nov 6th, 2007
As rates of childhood obesity rise across the nation, schools are under pressure to serve healthy foods in cafeterias as well as establish policies to curb the availability of unhealthy foods and sodas on school campuses. Many schools have banned the sale of sodas and candy during school hours. However, outside of the cafeteria and vending machines, school fundraisers are another source of unhealthy foods on campus. Ninety-one percent of schools nationwide use fundraisers as a means to raise school funds, 81 percent of these schools sell cookie dough or greeting cards (Conners, 2006). There is a growing interest in exploring creative ways to raise funds without using unhealthy foods.

The Organic Chronicles
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
This pamphlet conveys some basic principles of organic agriculture (and the ag-ecosystem) and is in a comic book format. There are English and Spanish versions of this publication, which is titled, The Organic Chronicles. Organic Chronicles in English: low resolution or high resolution Las Cronicas Organicas: de baja resolución or de alta resolución

What Deborah Kane
Thu, May 8th, 2008
?What?s for Lunch? provides a historical overview of school food and school gardens in the United States and details activities in the Portland Public Schools district. Interestingly enough, there was a time in our history when school food and school gardens were considered matters of national security.
Download

Chronology of Farm to School Debra Eschmeyer
Mon, Apr 28th, 2008
When did farm to school programs start? What were the major milestones? This brief factsheet lays out the history of farm to school.
Download

Farm to School Programs - A Powerpoint presentation Anupama Joshi & Steph Larsen
Sun, Jun 1st, 2008
Download

Farm to School Policy: A State by State Listing Marion Kalb
Tue, Jul 8th, 2008
Farm to school policy is listed by state with key legislation and funding amounts highlighted.
Download

Farm to School Presentation Anupama Joshi
Thu, Jun 5th, 2008
Farm to School webinar introducing the National Farm to School Network and how farm to school programs work.

Farm to School Policy Presentation Community Food Security Coalition
Tue, Jul 8th, 2008
State farm to school policies displayed by state in a PowerPoint presentation.
Download

Child Nutrition Reauthorization - Background National Farm to School Network
Thu, Nov 13th, 2008
Download

Section 122 Farm to Cafeteria Language
Mon, Jan 12th, 2009
Download

Fresh, Healthy and Safe Food: Best Practices for Using Produce from School Gardens
Thu, Jan 29th, 2009
Download

Nourishing the Nation One Tray at a Time Community Food Security Coalition, National Farm to School Network, School Food FOCUS
Thu, Mar 19th, 2009
The policy recommendations in this document are solutions that are fair to American children, schools, farmers, food producers, and communities. The following lists the most effective ways Washington can rebalance the way American children eat in schools. We hope you will join us in our effort to nourish the nation, one tray at a time.
Download

Is There a Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement? Positive Results From Pub
Thu, Jan 1st, 2009
This is a new feature on research supporting the link between kids' health and success in school. A new study in the January 2009 Journal of School Health found that increasing opportunities for kids to participate in physical activity, fitness and sports may help support their success in the classroom. While further research is required, there is mounting evidence that opportunities in school to help children meet the recommended one hour of physical activity per day not only will enhance their health but also may have a positive effect on learning and academic achievement. Click here to read the article.

Action Strategies Toolkit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Fri, May 1st, 2009
Working in close collaboration with 11 influential policy-maker organizations, Leadership for Healthy Communities developed this toolkit to equip state, municipal, county and school leaders with promising and evidence-based policy approaches designed to improve children?s health and reduce childhood obesity. This comprehensive resource includes strategies in 10 policy areas, lists of key stakeholders, tips on how to start programs, and examples of policies that states and communities have implemented successfully. It is prefaced with an unequivocal leadership statement signed by executive directors from each of the 11 participating policy-maker organizations.This statement underscores the organizations? recognition that childhood obesity is a national problem and reflects their commitment to work collaboratively across levels of government to build healthier communities.
Download

What Can USDA Do? One Tray Team
Wed, Sep 16th, 2009
This document is a ten-point roadmap for national coordination between government at all levels and partners promoting Farm to School and sustainable procurement practices developed by the National Farm to School Network, Community Food Security Coalition, and School Food FOCUS.
Download

Succession and Enterprise Adaptation at the Rural Urban Interface Shoshanah Inwood and Jeff S. Sharp
Mon, Jun 1st, 2009
To find out the succession strategies of farms near urban areas, Shoshanah Inwood, a research associate with the Social Responsibility Initiative in Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences interviewed farm families located near Columbus, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Succession and Enterprise Adaptation at the Rural Urban Interface (PDF/581KB) describes four types of strategies being used to keep farms viable. Click here for an article about this report.

The School Nutrition Operations Report: The State of School Nutrition 2009 School Nutrition Association
Tue, Jun 30th, 2009
The School Nutrition Operations Report: The State of School Nutrition 2009 , to be released June 30th, benchmarks detailed information on operational issues of school nutrition programs and policies including participation rates, meal charges, trends in food offerings, food safety, procurement, lunch periods, payment systems and more!

Food Stamp Use Linked To Weight Gain, Study Finds
Wed, Aug 12th, 2009
Researchers found that the average user of food stamps had a Body Mass Index (BMI) 1.15 points higher than non-users. The link between food stamps and higher weight was almost entirely based on women users, who averaged 1.24 points higher BMI than those not in the program, the study found. For an average American woman, this would mean an increase in weight of 5.8 pounds.

USDA Official Highlights Support for Local Food Systems Deputy Secretary Kathleen A. Merrigan
Wed, Aug 26th, 2009
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Kathleen Merrigan, explores the benefits of local food systems in a USDA memo.
Download

Alabama

Guide to Healthy Vending Machines Alabama Department of Public Health
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Alabama Department of Public Health: Guide to Healthy Vending Machines
Download

California

Resources for Farm to School Champions Center for Food & Justice
Sat, Sep 1st, 2007
This Farm to School resource primer is a great one-pager linking you to materials and organizations that can help you implement and sustain your farm to school program.

Connecticut

Statutory Reference regarding Farm To School
Sat, Jul 1st, 2006
Public Act 06-135 Codified: Sec. 22-38 There is established, within the Department of Agriculture, a farm to school program. In consultation with the Department of Education, the program shall facilitate and promote the sale of Connecticut-grown farm products by farms to school districts, individual schools and other educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education.
Download

Connecticut Farm Map
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Visit Connecticut's farms, courtesy of a new Connecticut Farm Map. This colored, full-scale road map lists by category, 222 farm businesses with detailed directions to their establishments and brief descriptions of their business. It includes Ag-Tourism, Farmers' Markets, Christmas trees, Pick-Your-Own, Orchards, Maple Syrup and many others. The map also contains information on Connecticut agricultural statistics, Farmers' Markets, Cooperative Extension offices and Department of Agriculture contacts. This map is both entertaining and educational and points to the diversity of our state's agriculture and of its importance as a destination attraction. The map is distributed at Extension offices, tourism centers and farm stands.

Florida

Presentation on New North Florida Marketing Cooperative
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
Download

Georgia

Georgia Organics Farm to School video Georgia Organics (created by Anthony-Masterson Photography)
Mon, Mar 30th, 2009
Check out the new "Farm to School" Video from Georgia Organics to learn more about the "4 C's" involved in this program - Classroom, Cafeteria, Culinary, and Community. Features Mendez Foundation's Seeds of Nutrition Program.

Iowa

Practical Farms of Iowa Website
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
PFI research and development projects have resulted in a wide range of reports, publications and videos that you may find useful. We also offer links to a number of related organizations and the resources they have available.

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Website The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture provides links to groups doing work related to farm to school and sustainable agriculture.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Schools That Purchased Locally Grown Foods During '07-'08 School Year Massachusetts Farm to School Project
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

Massachusetts Farms: Directory for School Food Services Massachusetts Farm to School Project
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Download

Massachussetts Farm to School Cookbook Amy Cotler
Fri, Dec 1st, 2006
The cookbook features 45 easy-to-follow recipes using Massachusetts crop, including value added produce such as peeled butternut squash and sliced carrots.
- Easy to prep recipes using dormant seasonal crop, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes and butternut squash
- Recipes have been school tested by Food Service Directors, cooks, and students in the schools themselves and designed for 50 to 100 servings.
- Nutritional analysis for each recipe
- Contacts for accessing farm produce
- Kid’s favorites include: Brown Rice Pilaf with Carrots, Chinese Green Beans, Tropical Cole Slaw and Garlic Mashed New Potatoes

Download

Fresh, Healthy, and Safe Food: Best Practices for Using Produce from School Gardens
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
Download

Michigan

Agriculture Every Day Various
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Agriculture Every Day wasa monthly web magazine, published in 2003, that highlighted the many ways the MDA and the state's agriculture industry enrich the lives of the people of Michigan.

Dairy Facts!
Mon, Jan 1st, 1996
Dairy Facts from the farm to you!

Montana

Farm to School Fact Sheet for Montanta Sleeping Giant Citizens Council
Tue, Dec 1st, 2009
The basics of Farm to School for Montana citizens: healthy kids and healthy farms.
Download

New Jersey

New Jersey Agricultural Society
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Dependence on agriculture knows no boundaries. Urban and rural, wealthy and poor, white collar or blue collar, young and old, developed nation or developing nation, any culture, any race . . . no matter how people are classified, agriculture is the lifeline that supports them all.  Agriculture provides all of our food, clothing, and shelter. 

New York

Why Garden in New York State Schools - A powerpoint presentation Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
If you're looking for ways to share the excitement of school gardening with other teachers and educators; if you need to convince your administrators of the benefits of beginning a garden in your school; and if you're looking for research-based justification of why
gardening is so important, this presentation will be useful to you. It is designed as a guided presentation, or to run on its own at an exhibit. 
Download

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Food Cooperative Website
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
We're a grassroots network uniting Oklahoma folks interested in sustainably produced, locally grown food. We bring the farmer's market to your front door. Our goal is a business that is environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially just.

Why Schools Should Serve Locally-Grown Foods Essay Contest Winners
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
This essay contest is designed in include young people in a thoughtful discussion of solutions and current challenges facing farmers and consumers in our food system. The winning essays will focus on the issues and potential benefits involved in forming an Oklahoma Farm-to- School program in an individual school and/or statewide in many schools.

Oregon

Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Website
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001
The Oregon Department of Education has a new Farm To School and School Garden Web page - http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=62.

Pennsylvania

Best Practices Manual Project PA
Wed, Nov 30th, -0001
Project PA: Best Practices Manual

Rhode Island

Urban Agriculture in Providence: Growing Our Community by Growing Good Food Urban Agriculture Policy Task Force
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

Rhode Island Farm to School Brochure Kids First
Fri, May 1st, 2009
Download

Tennessee

Comfoodnet Virtual Farmers Market
Mon, Jan 1st, 2007
An innovative, web-based approach to supplying locally grown fruits and vegetables to schools, institutions and businesses in the ComFoodNET operating region...a one-stop shop for local growers to list currently available crops and for food service buyers to purchase the best of the fresh from local farms.

Washington

Publications on WA Farm to School Programs
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001

Farm to School Publications from the WSDA Small Farms and Direct Marketing Program.

California

Harvest Health-Los Angeles Vanessa Zajfen
Thu, May 28th, 2009

California

Harvest Health-San Diego Vanessa Zajfen
Mon, Jun 29th, 2009

Iowa

The packet to initiate your own Farm to School Chapter can be found by clicking here. Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Thu, Dec 1st, -0001