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The National Farm to School Network is a collaborative program of Center for Food & Justice (CFJ), a division of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC). Initiated in 2000, the National Program has spearheaded the development of the farm to school movement across the country, successfully assisting organizations in starting up and sustaining farm to school efforts, fund raising, and providing informational resources, education and training for farm to school stakeholders.
Origins of the National Farm to School Program date back to a collaborative project led by the Center for Food & Justice. The four-year project funded by USDA Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS 2000-2004) jump started the development of farm to school projects in several states. The lessons, models and evaluation results from this project have been shared nationwide and are providing solutions to issues emerging in other states.
National Farm to School Network Launched in 2007
Coordinated by the Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition, and with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the National Farm to School Network was officially launched in 2007. The purpose of the Network is to work towards institutionalizing and catalyzing farm to school programs as viable models for improving the economic viability of family-scale farmers and supporting child nutrition efforts. The Network will engage practitioners in the farm to school arena, as well as other public health, farming, and educational leaders at the national and regional level). Specific goals include:
Policy: To support state and national policy efforts for developing regulations and legislation that addresses policy barriers and develops new opportunities for farm to school programs. While federal farm to school policy issues have been addressed to some degree by CFSC, dedicated staff time would result in a more targeted, thorough approach, which will be enhanced with the participation from members of a National Farm to School Network.
Media and Marketing: To increase visibility and momentum about farm to school programs as a strategy to strengthen family farms and local economies, and reduce childhood obesity through a coordinated marketing and media campaign at the state, regional and national levels. This effort will focus on creating clear, consistent and inspiring language that reflects the shared vision of farm to school programs in the U.S, as well as take into account the regional differences that impact programs.
Information Services: To update and revise existing informational resources on farm to school to reflect the growth and complexity of programs, regional differences and develop new resources to meet any gaps. To develop improved systems to collect and compile information from existing farm to school programs, including evaluation data. While some of this work has been started by CFJ by the development of the farm to school website, more concerted efforts are needed to make it a thriving, user-friendly informational resource.
Networking: To develop networking systems among existing farm to school programs to share information and lessons learned to avoid "reinventing the wheel." Through the five regional meetings conducted last year, it is clear that farm to school organizers find networking essential for the survival and sustainability of their programs.
Training and Technical Assistance: To provide training and technical assistance to school administrators, food service, parents, farmers and community members, and others interested at the state, regional and national level. T&TA will be provided directly by CFJ and CFSC staff, in collaboration with regions for presentations and planning workshops, as well as through the development of a Train the Trainers Program.
Contact Network Coordinators Anupama Joshi or Marion Kalb for more information and join our network here.
Regional Lead AgenciesRegional Lead Agencies in eight regions of the country have been established to lead farm to school efforts in the states that comprise the regions. Click here for a list of regions, and contact information for the Regional Lead Agencies. |
