farm to school
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THE. PROGRAM. Farm to School. West Virginia School Nutrition Association Conference March 2013. Overview. What is Farm to School? Challenges and Solutions Benefits Why is USDA involved? How is USDA involved? Resources Farm to School Myths, Busted! Questions. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
FARM TO SCHOOL
West Virginia School Nutrition Association Conference March 2013
THE
PROGRAM
Overview What is Farm to School? Challenges and Solutions Benefits Why is USDA involved? How is USDA involved? Resources Farm to School Myths, Busted! Questions
What is Farm to School?
Local FoodFood Education
The term ‘farm to school’ encompasses efforts that connect schools with local or regional food producers (including farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors and distributors of all sizes) in order to serve their products to children at schools.
Procuring Local Foods for Schools
Procuring Local Foods for Schools
Local What?
Fruits and
Vegetables
Meat, Poultry and
Fish
Beans, Grains,
and Flour
Dairy and Eggs
Local How? Through distributors From food processors Through food service management
companies From individual producers From producer co-ops From school gardens
Farm to school programs can also include food, agriculture and nutrition-based educational efforts that span a host of activities such as gardening, farm visits, and cooking classes.
Education
Volume Distribution Price Time Facilities Staff skills Food safety Acceptance of new foods
Challenges, and Solutions!
.
Challenges
Why Farm to School?
Farm to school programs are believed to: Improve knowledge and attitudes
toward food, agriculture, nutrition, and environment.
Increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
Increase market opportunities for producers.
Support economic development.
Legislation
Section 243 of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act
“The Secretary shall carry out a program to improve access to local foods in
eligible schools.”
Why is USDA involved?
Local Foods and the New Meal Pattern
What’s new for school food: More fruits More vegetables Whole grains Only low- and non-fat
milk Calorie ranges Saturated fat limits Sodium limits Foods-based menus
Institutions receiving funds through the USDA Child Nutrition Programs are allowed to apply an optional geographic preference in the procurement of unprocessed locally grown or locally raised agricultural products.
The Geographic Preference Option
Geographic Preference
FNS Staffing and Offices
WRO
SWRO
MPROMWRO
SERO
MARO
NERO
Farm to School GrantsIn FY 2013, USDA will award up to $5 million in
grants to support farm to school efforts. Planning grants are for school districts or schools
just starting to incorporate farm to school program elements into their operations.
Implementation grants are for school districts or schools to help scale or further develop existing farm to school initiatives.
Support Service Grants are for schools and entities working with school districts or schools to further develop existing farm to school initiatives and to provide broad reaching support services to farm to school initiatives.
Proposals are due April 24, 2013
Farm to School Census Survey of all Public School Food Authorities
Baseline of SFAs purchasing locally produced food/and or conducting other F2S activities
Survey will be open until May 3, 2013
Data will be available by State
Other Involved USDA Agencies
Agricultural Marketing Service Economic Research Service Forest Service Farm Service Agency National Agricultural Library National Agriculture Statistics Service National Institute of Food and Agriculture Rural Development
Farm to School Myths, Busted
It’s mainly for farmers. It’s mainly about fresh produce. There is a set definition for local. It’s dependent on direct deliveries from farmers. Local is always fresher. USDA doesn’t support gardens and curriculum
integration; it is just interested in the cafeteria. It’s just about organic or sustainable products. It only involves the National School Lunch Program. USDA requires local farmers to be GAP/GHP
certified before they sell to schools.
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s:Farm to School resourcesFarm to School listservFarm to School grantsFarm to School related policy guidance
Farm to School Resources
Resources
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/pdf/2010_summary-report.pdf
USDA Farm To School Team 2010 Summary Report
Monique HattenBranch ChiefEmail: [email protected]
Justin DarkoFarm to School [email protected]
Thank you! Questions?