Washington Media Coverage
Tsongas pays area a visit by Brad Petrishan. Wicked Local. Published 10/23/2008.
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas talked Washington apples rather than Washington politics Friday, as she visited a number of orchards and farms across the fifth congressional district to get a better idea of the challenges facing its 535 farm owners.
“What started my whole reconsideration of the farm bill … was hearing that one of three children in my district go hungry,” she said, adding that she believes local produce can help alleviate the problem through programs such as the Farm to School Program. Read the entire article.
Tsongas tours district's finest farms by Brad Petrishen. The MetroWest Daily News. Published 10/18/2008.
Established about five years ago, the nonprofit Farm to School Program helps match public schools with local farmers who provide them with fresh produce. Read the entire article.
Fresh Produce Programs Are Win-Winners by Editorial Board. Kitsap Sun. Published 10/12/2008.
This spring, Washington lawmakers passed Local Farms-Healthy Kids legislation, with funding to connect schools with Washington farmers and produce distributors. Consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables is a lifestyle change that children may bring home to their families, and carry with them into adulthood — a significant step toward increasing health and reducing obesity in our society. Read the entire article.
Local Produce Gets More Prominent in the Lunch Line by Edie Lau. Kitsap Sun. Published 10/11/2008.
Washington lawmakers this spring boosted the local angle by passing legislation dubbed Local Farms-Healthy Kids, which puts personnel and money toward connecting schools with Washington farmers and distributors. The first act of the new law was to offer $600,000 in grants to elementary schools with a high proportion of low-income students. Read the entire article.
Badly Needed: Seattle-Area School Food Programs by Alex Steffen. World Changing Seattle. Published 09/14/2008.
Farm-to-classroom programs, schoolyard gardens and innovative educational programs like the Netherlands' Kinderkookkafé can not only provide better food than is often available now to even the wealthiest Seattle public school kids, but also teach life-skills in how to eat well. Read the entire article.
Farms to Schools: Local Foods for Local Kids by Julia Steinberger. World Changing Seattle. Published 09/03/2008.
Imagine a school cafeteria where kids line up at a salad bar that's brimming with fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables. Imagine that they know – and feel proud – that the milk in their milk carton comes from a Washington dairy. It's starting to happen in Washington State. Read the entire article.
25 schools to get state fruits, vegetables by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 08/22/2008.
Twenty-five schools statewide will be able to buy Washington-grown fruits and vegetables as snacks this year, thanks to new legislation. The Local Farms-Healthy Kids bill passed nearly unanimously in Olympia earlier this year aims to get nutritious food to schoolchildren and provide economic opportunities to state farmers. Read the entire article.
The Art of Eating Locally by Kayt Lange. The Melon. Published 08/13/2008.
This past legislative session in Olympia, I was thrilled to watch the “Farm to School” bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, pass both chambers with ease. This bill, in the top four priorities of our environmental community, attracted support from parents, public health employees, child advocates, state school nutritionists, and farmers alike. Read the entire article.
Hundreds of new laws take affect in Washington state by Rachel La Corte. The Seattle Times. Published 06/08/2008.
A wide ranging measure sets up a farm to school program in the Department of Agriculture, sets up a grant program for schools, and much more. Read the entire article.
Produce law just a start, educators say by Susan Gordon. The News Tribune. Published 04/27/2008.
Public schools would be allowed to pay more for Washington produce as part of a new law promoted as a way to improve child nutrition while supporting Evergreen State farmers. The $1.5 million measure provides $570,000 in school nutrition grants beginning next fall. Read the entire article.
Law brings state's harvest to lunchrooms by Valoria Loveland. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 04/26/2008.
This farm-to-school opportunity will help support the profitability of Washington farms and preserve those beautiful open spaces that we all love. And every parent knows that good habits start early. With Local Farms, Healthy Kids, we'll help young people make the right choices for a lifetime. Read the entire article.
Struggling U.S. farm bill ‘not that simple’ by Alice Bagley. Whitman College Pioneer. Published 04/24/2008.
Title X of the bill even provides funding for purchasing from community garden projects and other locally based initiatives. This is a huge step forward towards “farm-to-school” programs, which have been advocated on the grassroots level in many communities, including Walla Walla. Read the entire article.
School food’s nearly home grown by Tad Sooter. Bainbridge Island Review. Published 03/26/2008.
A bill passed in the state Legislature’s recently adjourned session and expected to be signed by the governor, is designed to clear a path for farmers and school districts to get local produce into the lunchroom. The bill allows districts to favor Washington-grown products when awarding contracts. It also establishes a “farm to school program” and a grant program for purchasing Washington produce with $1.4 million allocated for kick starting pilot projects. Read the entire article.
A healthy option of locally grown by Editorial Board. The Seattle Times. Published 03/16/2008.
The "Local Farms — Healthy Kids Act" promotes all Washington-grown food — fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy. The legislation facilitates a farm-to-school program by eliminating bureaucratic impediments to buying local products, including lowest-cost bidding. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-schools legislation? It's a win for everyone by Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins and Bill Lee. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 03/14/2008.
Local schools will soon be able to buy more locally grown meat and produce for their lunch programs, thanks to a measure that finished its legislative journey this week and now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it. Read the entire article.
Bill links local farmers, schools by Andy Campbell. The Bellingham Herald. Published 03/13/2008.
A bill passed by state legislators in Olympia appropriates $1.5 million to better connect schools and other state-run institutions with local farms. The bill, which passed both houses with just a single vote against it, requests about $1 million of the total for the Farm to School and low-income snack programs. Other parts of the funding go toward a farm to food bank program and other nutritional programs. Read the entire article.
State Legislature Passes Local Farms Healthy Kids Bill by Tom Geiger. Press Release: Washington Environmental Council. Published 03/11/2008.
Today the state legislature passed the Local Farms – Healthy Kids bill (SSB 6483). Votes were very much bi-partisan and essentially unanimous in both the House and Senate. A key benefit of this legislation will make it easier for schools to buy locally grown food – providing markets for local farmers and nutritious, fresh local food for our children. As a package, this bill will become the most comprehensive local foods program in the nation. Read the entire article.
Wash. measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Capital Press. Published 03/01/2008.
The potatoes still need to be planted, as do the squash, but at Kirsop Farm, Genine Bradwin and Colin Barricklow are readying their land for the abundance of vegetables that will go to farmers markets, co-ops and local schools.
A small portion of their bounty - mostly potatoes, squash and salad mix - goes to the Olympia School District, which uses fresh fruit and vegetables from about eight local farmers for lunches in its 18 schools. Read the entire article.
WA measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Examiner. Published 03/01/2008.
The measure would help cut through some of the red tape that can prevent schools from getting local food - exempting schools from having to go through a competitive bidding process when they make large purchases of Washington grown food or food that was grown and processed in Washington state. Read the entire article.
States that have, or are considering, farm-to-school programs by Associated Press. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 03/01/2008.
Summary of states with farm to school policy. Read the entire article.
Local farmers may shake up school lunches by Aileen Charleston. The Federal Way Mirror. Published 02/09/2008.
In 2002, the Olympia School District introduced a pilot program at an elementary school that provided students with an organic salad bar containing locally grown fruits and vegetables during lunchtime. Buying from local farmers is a process that sounds easier than it is. Schools need to abide by strict state rules and regulations that force them to buy food from the lowest bidder, regardless of where the food items are grown. Read the entire article.
Lawmakers look to connect local food with schools by John Dodge. The Olympian. Published 01/28/2008.
State lawmakers considering a bill to make it easier for K-12 schools, state agencies and colleges to buy Washington-grown food should stop by the public cafeteria in the Pritchard Building on the Capitol Campus to see how the food connection can work. Read the entire article.
Farms, schools may cultivate relationships by Jennifer Henrichsen. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 01/25/2008.
School cafeteria food still bites. Just ask Aiden Kerr, a fifth-grader from Seattle. The 10-year-old student told state House committee members Thursday that the amount of processed food in school cafeterias is "profoundly disgusting" and that it needs to change. Aiden was one of several to testify in favor of House Bill 2798, also known as the local farms/healthy kids act. If enacted, the bill would enhance student health while also boosting farm economies. Read the entire article.
Bill seeks to get more healthful food into schools by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/24/2008.
The polite word fifth-grader Aden Kahr uses to describe school lunches is "problematic." Aden joined farmers, parents, school nutritionists, social-service providers, food banks and environmental groups in urging the state to get more healthful Washington-grown food into cafeterias. Read the entire article.
Giving teeth to food policies by Stephanie Kosonen. GoSkagit. Published 01/22/2008.
Mo McBroom, a lobbyist and policy director for the Washington Environmental Council said the Local Farms, Healthy Kids bill aims to correct that and other roadblocks farmers could experience with getting their product into institutional kitchens.
It would create a Farm-to-School program to foster relationships between farms and schools. The program would troubleshoot predicted supply issues and help to introduce curricula for students to learn about the environmental, economic and health benefits of consuming locally grown foods. The bill would also help eliminate red tape that currently prevents schools from being able to buy local food. Read the entire article.
Bill aims to put local foods on school lunch menus by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/09/2008.
Legislation to be proposed in Olympia next week could catapult Washington to the forefront of national efforts to get more farm-fresh, locally grown food into lunches at schools and at other institutions. It borrows from piecemeal efforts in other states, but would go further. Read the entire article.
Get more local produce into the schools by Joan Crooks and Clayton Burrows. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 12/18/2007.
We believe Washington is a special place to live that is blessed with productive farmland, thriving communities and millions of people who all want a healthy future for their kids. We believe in helping local farms thrive by providing increased markets for Washington crops while providing nutritious food options for kids in our schools.
"Local Farms -- Healthy Kids" is an idea that marries these goals of thriving farms and healthy kids into one legislative proposal. Read the entire article.
Fresh-produce market makes some gains with schools by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/16/2007.
The big challenge is to create farm-to-cafeteria programs on an economically meaningful scale.
"You can hardly turn on the radio and not find something about food security, buying local, concerns about global warming," said Allen Rozema, executive director of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. "We're on a wave of change, and maybe that's why we're getting traction that other groups haven't in the past."
Read the entire article.Many barriers keep organic food out of school lunches by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/15/2007.
In the Puget Sound region, consumers increasingly want local food -- for the fresh taste, to curb carbon emissions or because of concerns about the safety of food grown overseas. While schools are offering healthier menu choices, what seems like a no-brainer -- feeding local kids locally grown food -- is surprisingly hard to do.
Read the entire article.Olympia district's farm-to-school program a role model by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 10/15/2007.
Across the Olympia School District, each cafeteria offers a hot lunch and salad bar loaded with protein sources, organic produce and greens picked a few miles down the road. The organic salad bar started five years ago after parents at Lincoln Elementary helped make connections with local farms. It's now offered in every school.
Some Washington Schools go Organic for Lunch by Rebecca Cook. Associated Press.. Published 09/12/2004.
The tempting smell of pepperoni pizza drifted through the air as students poured into the cafeteria. But 11-year-old Cameron Landry walked straight past the cheesy slices and started piling organic lettuce, pita pockets and blueberries on his tray. Read the entire article.
Seattle School Board Approves Comprehensive Suite of Nutrition Policies Sales of Sodas and Junk Food. Seattle School Board Approves Comprehensive Suite of Nutrition Policies Sales of Sodas and Junk Food. Published 09/03/2004.
Read the entire article.
Our Views. The Olympian. Published 10/28/2003.
Food choice is important. The Olympia School District has a school lunch program that has gained national recognition. And well it should. The Organic Choices Program allows students at the district's 11 elementary schools to dine at a salad bar consisting of healthy, nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and protein sources such as eggs, beans and cottage cheese. It started at Lincoln Elementary School last year and has since spread to the other elementary... Read the entire article.
Olympia Schools Continue to Focus on Nutritious Food by Wendy Culverwell. The Olympian. Published 04/29/2003.
Adolescents have little trouble indulging their taste for junk food during school hours, but the choices are narrowing in Olympia schools. Read the entire article.