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Minnesota Media Coverage

Sibley East High School: Growing a Better School Lunch by Community Blueprint. . Published 07/30/2012.
Over 9 months in the making, this video documents one of Minnesota's largest school gardens located in Arlington, Minnesota. We followed a school ag class from seeding to harvest through a school year. This video documents that process and helps other schools recreate the success they've had. Sibley East High School is not just taking the farm to school — it’s taking its school to the farm. Read the entire article.

Minneapolis Commissary Tour Turns Page on the Past by Mike Mitchelson. Food Service News. Published 06/07/2012.
Minneapolis Public Schools hired Bertrand Weber as director of nutrition services for MPS in January, and he turned quickly to improving the district’s offerings to students, which includes bringing salad bars in the city’s high schools this fall—and in all schools by the spring 2013. His goal is also to greatly improve the MPS Farm-to-School program by creating relationships with local farmers and processors. He had a little help with his efforts on May 7 from the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, which organized a facility tour for farmers and distributors. The facility? The district’s massive central commissary, through which go the 2.1 million breakfasts and 3.7 million lunches the city’s public schools serve annually. At the moment, it’s basically a packing facility. Weber has a plan to change that, however, and the tour was a starting point. “The five-year plan is to make into a central kitchen,” he said. “As this happens, and we have some facilities to do some processing, we’ll bring more in-house, do scratch cooking.” Read the entire article.

Real food and Minneapolis Public Schools by JoAnne Berkenkamp . IATP Blog. Published 05/10/2012.
Thirty-five years ago, the Minneapolis Schools set up a large, central commissary to provide food to schools throughout the district. It was designed as a “pre-pack” operation where purchased, pre-processed foods were packaged and shipped to schools for re-heating and serving to students. Just a few months ago, MPS began to dream about a food revolution of its own. MPS’ new Director of Nutrition and Culinary Services, Bertrand Weber, and his staff have set bold new goals to improve the quality of food being served and to support local farmers and the local economy through an expanded Farm to School program. That means big improvements ahead for the 3.7 million lunches and 2.1 million breakfasts served annually by MPS. Read the entire article.

Real food and Minneapolis Public Schools by JoAnne Berkenkamp. IATP Blog. Published 05/10/2012.
erhaps you were thinking that in this crazy world we live in things never change for the better? Well, if you are a student or a parent in the Minneapolis Public School (MPS) district, you have something to look forward to. Thirty-five years ago, the Minneapolis Schools set up a large, central commissary to provide food to schools throughout the district. It was designed as a “pre-pack” operation where purchased, pre-processed foods were packaged and shipped to schools for re-heating and serving to students. The “pre-pack” approach meant that the district didn’t cook its own meals and nearly all the food came to kids wrapped individually in plastic. That’s about to change. Just a few months ago, MPS began to dream about a food revolution of its own. MPS’ new Director of Nutrition and Culinary Services, Bertrand Weber, and his staff have set bold new goals to improve the quality of food being served and to support local farmers and the local economy through an expanded Farm to School program. That means big improvements ahead for the 3.7 million lunches and 2.1 million breakfasts served annually by MPS. Read the entire article.

Film explores benefits and challenges of farm to school by Janet Kubat Willette. AgriNews. Published 04/28/2012.
Childhood obesity is shaping up as one of the major health challenges of the 21st century, Mary Story says in the new documentary, Farm to School: Growing our Future. Story is a professor in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The film explores Minnesota's farm to school movement, both opportunities and challenges. Read the entire article.

Farm to school documentary makes food the star by Janet Kubat Willette. . Published 04/25/2012.
The premiere of the documentary, Farm to School: Growing our Future, was like a real Hollywood premiere, a Cannon Falls farmer said. John Peterson of Ferndale Market said it was fun to take in the premiere, which included a reception beforehand, a red carpet and visiting dignitaries including the Minnesota Commissioner of Health Edward Ehlinger and president of Twin Cities Public Television, Jim Pagliarini. Peterson served on a panel for a discussion following the premiere and on another panel following a screening at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. He senses a growing interest in farm to school, he's hearing about it in studies and reading things online. Read the entire article.

'Farm to School': Moving from pink slime to purple beets by Beth Hawkins. MinnPost. Published 03/22/2012.
Praise for "Farm to School: Growing Our Future," by dietician Mary Story, the senior associate dean of academic and student affairs at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. The 30-minute program is envisioned as a call to action. It airs Sunday, March 25, at 8 p.m. on Twin Cities Public Television’s Minnesota Channel and at a dozen events around the state over the next couple of months. Read the entire article.

More MN Schools Serving Locally-Grown Foods by John Michaelson. Public News Service - MN. Published 03/21/2012.
More Minnesota students are finding locally grown foods as they peruse the choices in the cafeteria lunch line, thanks to the Farm to School program from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). When IATP started the Farm to School program in 2006, says JoAnne Berkenkamp, the institute's program director for local foods, less than 20 districts took part. This year, there are 145. Read the entire article.

Farm-to-school food: Beyond apples to grass-fed hot dogs by Dave Peters. Minnesota Public Radio MPR news blog. Published 03/20/2012.
Every year, the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy surveys Minnesota schools to measure how much local food schools are providing to students. The numbers are out again and they're up again. Read the entire article.

Over a half million students statewide offered farm-fresh, local food last year. by JoAnne Berkenkamp, Andrew Ranallo. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Published 03/16/2012.
Schools serving over 558,000 students—or more than 68 percent of the state’s K-12 student population—are now engaged in Farm to School according to a pair of surveys released today by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA). Farm to School efforts make locally grown vegetables, fruits and other healthy choices an integral part of school meals while creating new opportunities for family farmers. Read the entire article.

Minnesota Department of Health awards SHIP 2.0 grants to fight chronic disease by Journal staff. International Falls Journal. Published 01/04/2012.
In a nation-leading effort to reduce chronic disease, the Minnesota Department of Health has awarded 18 grants to Minnesota communities to help lower the number of Minnesotans who use tobacco or who are obese or overweight. Read the entire article.

Healthy students are happy students by Janelle Verke. Pine Journal . Published 11/18/2011.
Third-grader Maverick Buchin said it best when he stated, “I have to keep myself healthy. I’m going to be a scientist when I grow up.” Buchin is one of 450 students in the Barnum Elementary School eating healthier lunches during the school day than most of us remember from our own childhood school lunch experience. That is all thanks to the Barnum School District’s commitment to the health of their students and their decision to provide higher-grade options in the lunchroom, including fresh fruits and vegetables for free. Read the entire article.

Changing the Country One Student At a Time by Lizzie Holzapfel. Simple Good and Tasty. Published 10/20/2011.
The other day I chatted with Lynn Mader, an IATP (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy) staff member who works on the Farm to School program in Minnesota. We talked about the successes and challenges of the program and how it is working to bring positive change to our community, to our state and to our countr Read the entire article.

Students discover taste for locally grown food by Janet Kubat Willette. AgriNews. Published 10/14/2011.
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.

Locally grown food a hit in schools by Carol Stender. AgriNews. Published 09/29/2011.
BENSON, Minn. — Jeanine Bowman didn't panic when she received 1,800 ears of locally grown sweet corn in late August. Instead, she prepared it with other fresh, local foods in the Morris Area School's hot lunch program. Read the entire article.

District 191 buying fresh, locally grown produce by Michael Ricci. Sun Newspapers (Burnsville). Published 09/28/2011.
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Independent School District 191 officials have begun an effort to foster higher academic achievement, but the effort is not a classroom venture. Read the entire article.

Fresh produce on the menu at Hill-Murray by Kate Zillmer. Oakdale Lake Elmo Review. Published 09/28/2011.
Last week, Hill-Murray High School's Homecoming lunch menu featured football-shaped chicken nuggets, "touchdown taters" and a serving of fresh corn on the cob. Read the entire article.

Northfield Recognized for Farm to School Month by Corey Butler Jr.. Northfield Patch. Published 09/27/2011.
Northfield High School students are featured in a video for the program, which advocates for students to connect with local produce and producers. Read the entire article.

Locally grown: Hill-Murray students connect with area farmers by Kathryn Elliott. TheCatholicSpirit.com. Published 09/27/2011.
On the last school day of homecoming week at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, local farmers Brian and Leslie Axdahl came to the cafeteria to display a rainbow bounty of peppers, squash, tomatoes and corn. They walked around lunch tables and greeted students, who were gearing up for a pep rally later that day. Read the entire article.

VIDEO: Local Food for Local Schools by Tom Niemisto. Minnesota 2020. Published 09/26/2011.
This September is the first official Farm to School Month in Minnesota. It's a new program that follows through on an old idea - serving local produce in Minnesota schools is best for nutrition and economic development. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy is a facilitator with local farmers and school districts who want to get more involved in Farm to School lunch menus. Read the entire article.

Area School District Connecting with Local Farmers by Raquel Hellman. KIMT News. Published 09/26/2011.
EYOTA, MN - "Making it Better": That's the name, and the goal, of a health initiative program in Minnesota. It's a challenge to communities to encourage people to make healthier lifestyle choices. Read the entire article.

Schools partner with JPS Farms by Kathy Burrill. Chisago County Press. Published 09/22/2011.
This year is a very exciting year for Chisago Lakes Area Schools. The district formed a partnership with JPS Farms, located in Center City, to buy fresh, organic produce on a weekly basis from JPS Farms. Read the entire article.

Lunchroom Harvest scheduled at Central Middle School by Dan Gustafson . Wayzata.com. Published 09/21/2011.
An event to celebrate Farm2School Month introduces students to farmers, bakers, and others who supply food for school lunches Read the entire article.

A healthier school lunch in Robbinsdale schools by Kelly Smith. Star Tribune. Published 09/20/2011.
Using a state health grant, Robbinsdale schools aimed to make salads appeal to kids of all ages. To their surprise, it's actually worked. Read the entire article.

The kids are loving it: Brainerd schools serve fresh, locally grown produce by Jodie Tweed. Brainerd Dispatch. Published 09/19/2011.
A partnership between area farmers and the Brainerd School District is providing locally grown fruits and vegetables for students' lunches. It's a win-win situation for all, especially Brainerd students who, whether they realize it or not, are eating healthier lunches. Read the entire article.

The Greenhouse by Wayzata Public Schools . . Published 09/18/2011.
A greenhouse at Central Middle School provides space for hands-on learning in science, nutrition and service to others: the harvest of vegetables become a healthy lunch for fellow students! After years of disuse, the greenhouse was recently renovated and reopened with resources from Culinary Express. Now, students get a taste of learning while also growing the movement for more fresh, local foods in school lunches. Read the entire article.

A change of taste in school lunches by Kelly Smith. Star Tribune. Published 09/16/2011.
More students are eating locally grown food this fall as Minnesota schools move to comply with new federal guidelines released next year. Read the entire article.

A change of taste in school lunches by Kelly Smith. Star Tribune. Published 09/16/2011.
Passing kids' taste tests: This year half of the state's students are getting fresh, locally grown food in Farm-to-School programs, aided this year by a new resource. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Health recently launched an online directory to connect schools to farms in the state, located at www.minnesotagrown.com. Read the entire article.

Chisago Lakes students being served locally grown vegetables and fruits. Chisago County Press. Published 09/15/2011.
Students across Minnesota, including those in Winona area schools, will enjoy a wide variety of Minnesota-grown produce during the month of September as part of the expanding effort to connect K-12 students with fresh, locally grown foods and the farmers who grew them. Read the entire article.

Farm to School Program by Katie Eldred. KAAL-TV. Published 09/13/2011.
Dover-Eyota schools are serving up lunches that grow in their back yard. It is all a part of their effort in the Farm to School program. Read the entire article.

Lunch from the farm at Southview. Thisweek Newspapers. Published 09/13/2011.
Gary Pahl of Pahl's Market visited Southview Elementary on September 12 to promote the locally grown fruits and vegetables being served for lunch in ISD 196. Read the entire article.

Our View: A tasty move in local schools. The Free Press (Mankato, MN). Published 09/11/2011.
Not only is that fresh apple, sweet corn and cantaloupe on your child’s lunch tray a pleasant surprise at Mankato area schools this year, but the produce will likely have come from an area grower. Read the entire article.

State’s own foods served in public schools by Jane Lightbourn. The Hastings Star-Gazette . Published 09/08/2011.
Students here will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of Minnesota-grown produce during the month of September as part of the expanding effort to connect kindergarten to grade 12 students with fresh, locally grown foods and the farmers who grow them. Read the entire article.

Students to Get a Big Taste of Minnesota during Farm to School Month by Andrew Ranallo, IATP. Hmong Times. Published 09/08/2011.
MINNEAPOLIS - Students across Minnesota will enjoy a wide variety of Minnesota-grown produce during the month of September as part of the expanding effort to connect K-12 students with fresh, locally grown foods and the farmers who grow them. Read the entire article.

Healthier Food on the Menu in SLP Schools by Todd Svanoe. St. Louis Park Patch. Published 09/07/2011.
St. Louis Park Schools will serve more fruits and veggies and less fat, but kids are selective and eat what their parents model. Read the entire article.

More Minnesota Schools are Serving Up Locally Grown Food by John Michaelson. Public News Service. Published 09/01/2011.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gov. Dayton has declared September "Farm to School Month" in Minnesota. The Farm to School initiative is a program of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). Read the entire article.

September 2011 -- Farm to School Works for Healthy Food Choices by Congresswoman Betty McCollum. AgriNews. Published 09/01/2011.
This September has been declared, for the first time, Farm to School Month by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. If you are not familiar with Farm to School programs, they connect small and mid-size farms that produce fresh, minimally processed foods with local schools to improve childhood nutrition and strengthen rural economies. Starting in 2005, Farm to School was an innovative idea being pioneered by St. Paul Public Schools. Today, it is a nationwide movement that is succeeding in getting more fresh fruits and vegetables onto students' plates. Read the entire article.

Dover-Eyota High School students expand their orchard by Heather Thorstensen. AgriNews. Published 06/02/2011.
Dover-Eyota High School students expanded an orchard at their school on May 16 with help from apple grower Jerry Kathan. Last spring, he helped students plant 15 dwarf apple trees, representing three Minnesota-hardy varieties, in a courtyard of the school. This year, he led 17 horticulture students in 9th through 12th grades plant five semi-dwarf pear trees. Read the entire article.

Are tight school budgets really an obstacle to farm-to-school success? by Dave Peters. Minnesota Public Radio. Published 05/31/2011.
One of the supposed obstacles to expanding the farm-to-school effort that gets local food into the school lunchroom is the tight budgets that school food programs operate under. But a survey this spring of 67 Minnesota food producers interested in the school market indicates this may not be the problem some have thought. Read the entire article.

Growing a healthier crop of kids by Jenny Kirk. Marshall Independent. Published 03/23/2011.
The past few years, the Farm to School program has been growing in more ways than one - growing fresh, healthy food and growing in popularity - both of which benefit local students, farmers and communities in Minnesota. Read the entire article.

Embracing the local: MN Farm to School programs see dramatic increase by Sharon Rolenc. Twin Cities Daily Planet. Published 03/14/2011.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) study shows a dramatic increase in Farm to School initiatives in Minnesota. A survey of 165 school districts - half those in Minnesota - found that the number engaged in Farm to School rose from only 10 in 2006 to 123 in 2010. Read the entire article.

11 steps: State program aims to improve diets by Kate Franken. SC Times. Published 03/05/2011.
Farm to School programs provide fresh, local food to students and a new market for farmers. For example, Sartell-St. Stephen students have enjoyed nine local foods this year from neighboring farms, including fresh sweet corn and melons from Svihel Farms in Foley and crisp apples from Collegeville Orchards. Read the entire article.

As more people look to local foods, market reaches a by Tom Cherveny. West Central Tribune . Published 03/02/2011.
MILAN — For years the school lunch menu was as simple as pizza on Monday, chicken nuggets on Tuesday and beef nachos on Wednesday. "Over and over again," said Jeannine Bowman, school lunch director for the Benson and Morris schools. She upset the apple cart by replacing much of the processed, institutional foods with locally grown foods — everything from apples to bison to zucchini — prepared from scratch on site. The variety has won lots of applause. Read the entire article.

Reaching Minnesota's hungry kids through Farm to School by Sharon Rolenc. Twin Cities Daily Planet. Published 02/28/2011.
During the school year, one Minnesota child in three relies on free or reduced-price school meals for two-thirds of their daily food intake, and yet many low-income children continue to go without the food they need. In that situation, one popular nutrition initiative may help reach under-served kids. Stephanie Heim, Farm to School coordinator with the University of Minnesota Extension, says research has found when schools become engaged in Farm to School programs, school meal participation rates actually increase. Read the entire article.

Farm to School in Wayzata by Tom Niemisto. Daily Planet. Published 02/01/2011.
A Video profile of one program in Minnesota - JoAnne Berkenkamp works with local foods policy initiatives at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis. She says that Farm to School programs, such as the one at Wayzata Middle School, is smart policy that will help connect and educate students with their local food sources and support small- to mid-sized farmers year round. Read the entire article.

Master Gardeners will help students plant community plot on Century grounds by Jean Ruzicka. Park Rapids Enterprise . Published 01/29/2011.
A school/community garden will sprout on Century School grounds when summer arrives, a committee having formed to propagate the plan. The mission, Spangler explained, is to improve students’ health by encouraging families to grow and eat healthier food. Read the entire article.

VIDEO: Farm to School in Wayzata by Tom Niemisto, Video Production Specialist. Minnesota 2020. Published 01/26/2011.
School districts are writing the recipe for nutrition in cafeterias in Minnesota. The newly re-authorized Child Nutrition Act includes federal funding for more fresh fruits and vegetables and local food programs. Read the entire article.

Locally-grown, healthy lunch at school by Dan Krauth. Fox 17. Published 01/24/2011.
As part of a nationwide effort, a local group's putting pressure on school districts to serve healthier lunches. Mike Gavin grows apples on more than 80 acres of his farm in Coopersville, MI. He now has contracts to send a lot of those apples to 12 local school districts to serve up for lunch. It's a growing business. Read the entire article.

Lunch program welcomes healthy changes by Dennis Dalman . The Newsleaders. Published 01/20/2011.
There is life after French fries. That's one of Brenda Braulick's favorite reassurances. Braulick is the food-service director for the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. She understands children love French fries, pizza, cheeseburgers and other not-so-healthy foods. Read the entire article.

School administrators hope dramatic changes in school meals helps improve student success by Anne Williams. Bemidji Pioneer . Published 01/13/2011.
Brent Gish, superintendent of the Red Lake School District, believes if the district is not part of the solution, it is part of the problem. As the district undergoes a comprehensive school improvement plan, it is also revamping what it is serving for breakfasts and lunches. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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' 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

School lunch fresh from farm by Sarah Lemagie. Star Tribune. Published 12/01/2009.
Even in farm country, getting local foods on the menu can be surprisingly complicated for school districts that serve thousands of hot lunches every day. That isn't stopping the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district, which has joined schools across the state in a push to serve more food from Minnesota growers. Read the entire article.

Farm to school program starts at PR-B by Katie Anderson. Pine and Lakes. Published 11/18/2009.
Locally grown food has found its way into the kitchens at Pine River-Backus School. The school kitchen has been working hard this fall to get more locally grown fruit and vegetables into student's diets. Read the entire article.

Local Pupils, Local Food by Editorial. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Published 11/13/2009.
Speaking of food, Minnesota farmers grow a lot of it. There's corn and wheat and sunflowers and barley and oats and canola and flax and spuds and beets and soybeans and other beans of many colors. There are cows and pigs and sheep and turkey and chicken and bison. A summer stroll through the St. Paul Farmers Market produces a list of delectables much longer, if less by volume. Read the entire article.

Minnesota farm to school efforts catch eye of USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Press Release. Published 11/05/2009.
Minnesota farm to school efforts that provide students with healthy, locally grown food are attracting national attention. Earlier this week, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan toured St. Paul Schools' commissary to get a first-hand look at the district's Farm to School program and hear about other similar efforts around the state. Read the entire article.

Minnesota Farm to School Efforts Catch Eye of USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan by Ben Lilliston. Commondreams.org. Published 11/05/2009.
Minnesota farm to school efforts that provide students with healthy, locally grown food are attracting national attention. Earlier this week, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan toured St. Paul Schools' commissary to get a first-hand look at the district's Farm to School program and hear about other similar efforts around the state. Read the entire article.

USDA: St. Paul Public Schools 'Pioneers' in Farm-to-School Programs by Laura Thornquist. Public News Service. Published 11/04/2009.
St. Paul Public Schools have attracted so much recent attention that Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy secretary, says she's "going back to school," touring the public school commissary to learn how the district is implementing a successful farm-to-school program. Read the entire article.

From farm to school: Lunches get more local in District 196 by Erin Johnson. This Week Live. Published 11/04/2009.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District this year is aiming to introduce a new locally grown food item to students each month as part of a national program called Farm to School. So far, district students have munched on Honeycrisp apples, corn on the cob, and grass-fed beef hot dogs, all from area farms. Read the entire article.

USDA Announces More Funding for Beginning Farmers by Paula Mohr. The Farmer. Published 11/04/2009.
USDA deputy ag secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited with farmers in Elgin, school officials in St. Paul and agri-business owners in Minneapolis Tuesday on her trip through Minnesota. In Elgin, she announced USDA's intent to distribute $17 million in grants to 29 institutions that will help beginning farmers and ranchers. In Minnesota, recipients are Land Stewardship Project ($413,820) and Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. ($506,170). Read the entire article.

Sanford students learn the joy of tomatoes by Judy Swenson. Montevideo American News. Published 10/29/2009.
Sanford Elementary students received a special treat last Thursday. Representatives from the Land Stewardship Project Terry VanDerPol and Tom Taylor, along with Lynn Mader from the University of Minnesota Extension program, Pauline Strand lund of PK Strand lund Farms, and Audrey Arner of Moonstone Farm, paid a visit to the school last Thursday with bunches of tomatoes in tow. Read the entire article.

School lunch goes local in District 196 by KATIE MINTZ . SUN NEWSPAPERS. Published 10/14/2009.
Cows grazed on Minnesota pastures are making their way to students' lunch trays in District 196. The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District served grass-fed beef hot dogs from Cannon Falls for lunch Thursday, Oct. 8. The menu item from Thousand Hills Cattle Company was part of its newest nutrition focus. Read the entire article.

Locally-grown produce part of WDC schools by Dana Pavek. Morris Sun Tribune. Published 10/10/2009.
As hungry high school students line up for lunch, the tangy aroma of sweet peppers drifts from the Wadena-Deer Creek (WDC) High School kitchen. One of the choices on the menu - chicken fajitas with fresh, sautéed peppers. Outside in the High School Commons where students eat and congregate, WDC Food Services Director Sandie Rentz and University of Minnesota Extension Nutrition Education Coordinator Donna Anderson offer students a "taste" of fresh sliced peppers grown at a farm near Henning. Behind Rentz and Anderson is a display touting the nutritional benefits of peppers. Read the entire article.

Local foods featured in schools by Cynthya Porter. Winona Post. Published 09/27/2009.
There is a groundswell for local food in this region and the epicenter of it is right in the kitchens at District 861. Monday 72 food service professionals from across Southeastern Minnesota visited the district to learn more about how food service officials here have made it their mission to serve children fresh food grown close to home. Read the entire article.

Local delights in the lunchroom by Matt McKinney. Star Tribune. Published 09/10/2009.
School lunch managers around the state are working to get more locally grown items onto their noontime menus. Read the entire article.

Schools add locally grown foods by Brenda Ward. Northfield News. Published 09/08/2009.
If parents of students were to grade the food service at Northfield Public Schools, they just might give an "A" for adding fresh, locally grown food to this year's menu. Read the entire article.

Sept. 8 is back to school at PR-B by Kelly Virden. PineandLakes.com. Published 09/04/2009.
Also planned this school year is a "Farm to School" program in which the district will buy local products and use them in their school lunch program, Anderson said. She's already purchased some wild rice and honey and has plans to expand the program, as able. "It's to boost the economy in the area and to get back-to-basics for students," she added. Read the entire article.

Healthful snacks on way to schools by Katie Humphrey. Star Tribune. Published 08/08/2009.
"If you had a chocolate chip cookie in front of you and an apple, obviously the chocolate chip cookie would be more appealing," Rondeau-Ambroz said. Food services director Roxanne Williams said that's part of the rationale behind the exit of deep fryers and ice cream from some of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage schools. The emphasis this year will be on locally grown foods and farm-to-school education and eating. Read the entire article.

Farm to school in local-motion by Mike Mitchelson. Food Service News. Published 08/01/2009.
There will be several topics discussed at the Minnesota School Nutrition Association annual conference this month, but arguably the most important will be the presentation on a statewide Farm To School school lunch initiative. Read the entire article.

Eller Family Farm by Sarah Milnar. Community of a Plate. Published 07/22/2009.
Barb makes sure all her pigs, cows and goats have room to roam over 140 acres of farm and forest. Now Barb has made it her mission to keep her community out of the hospital by providing good, healthy food. She is now working to start a a Farm to School program. Read the entire article.

Could have been worse at PCPH by Natalie J. Ostgaard. Crookston Daily Times. Published 07/08/2009.
A collaborative of eight Minnesota counties, with Polk serving as the fiscal agent, has been awarded a $1,110,000 Statewide Health Improvement Program. Possibilities include the Farm-to-School program that brings healthy locally grown products to school lunch menus. Read the entire article.

Fixing Lunch by Corby Kummer. The Atlantic Magazine. Published 07/01/2009.
Tony Geraci is determined to get healthy food to the kids in Baltimore's public schools. (Article also highlights the St. Paul Public Schools lunch program.) Read the entire article.

School Meal Program Looking Buff. Food Management Magazine. Published 07/01/2009.
When Environmental Club students at Winona (MN) High School suggested that the district reduce its carbon footprint and get greener four years ago, few would have imagined that it would result in "buffburgers" and "buffdogs" on the lunch line - items made with bison meat produced by a local rancher/processor. But that was one of the major consequences of the decision, says the district's nutrition services director, Lyn Halverson. Read the entire article.

St. Paul steps up Farm-to-School initiative by Mike Mitchelson. Food Service News. Published 05/23/2009.
More than 2,000 school districts across the country are involved. With those participatory numbers and nutrition guidelines at the forefront of the school lunch debate, it's safe to declare that finding locally-grown products is no mere feel-good measure. Read the entire article.

LaDuke, son talk to lawmakers on farm-to-school program. DL-Online. Published 04/10/2009.
Gwekaanimad Gasco, a third grader at the Pine Point School, testified at the state capital on March 27. The state legislature is considering support for community based agriculture initiatives, local foods and farm to school programs in a bill sponsored by Karen Clark and forwarded to the full omnibus finance bill for addition. Gasco is one of 75 children at the Pine Point School, which has one of the first farm-to-school programs in the country, and is becoming a regional model of community innovation. Read the entire article.

Farm to School in Minnesota by Jean Ronnie and JoAnne Berkenkamp. WCCO Radio. Published 01/10/2009.
Tune in for a great interview with JoAnne Berkenkamp, Program Director, Local Foods at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and Jean Ronnie, head of St. Paul nutrition services. Read the entire article.

Blue Cross Foundation Awards $660,000 in Grants to Improve Community Health. Market Watch. Published 12/12/2008.
White Earth Land Recovery Project, Callaway, Minn., $60,000 for the Farm to School project on the White Earth Reservation, protecting the health of children by addressing pesticide contamination issues, promoting reservation-wide strategies to reduce environmental pollution, increasing the consumption of fresh locally grown and organic foods, and strengthening the local economy. Read the entire article.

Willmar Model brings kids local foods. Minn Post. Published 12/08/2008.
Youngsters in the Willmar, Minn., school district are like kids everywhere: they love sweet corn and slices of apples and don't care so much for squash. The difference for these students is that the corn, apples, squash and even fresh bison comes from farms and orchards in Kandiyohi County and the surrounding areas. The Willmar Model, as it is called, is an ambitious attempt at a farm-to-school program in Minnesota, part of a national movement to get children to eat healthy, locally grown foods while helping nearby producers find new markets. Read the entire article.

Let's Do Lunch by Faye Whitbeck. The Daily Journal. Published 10/24/2008.
Regulations aside, the experts say student lunches are currently loaded with high-fat, nutrient-poor cheeseburgers and hotdogs, chips and other foods which don't promote good health. The negative indications of health findings in children have likely started a national trend to start paying attention to what foods are available to kids. Schools across the country are becoming more focused on adding fruits, vegetables, salads and healthier options to menus. Read the entire article.

Students visit bison farm by Linda Vanderwerf. West Central Tribune. Published 05/22/2007.
Fifth graders toured the J&L Bison ranch northwest of Willmar as part of the school's farm to school program. Read the entire article.