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FARM TO SCHOOL West Virginia School Nutrition Association Conference March 2013 THE PROGRAM Slide 2 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 Slide 3 What is Farm to School? Local Food Food Education Slide 4 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 Slide 5 Local What? Fruits and Vegetables Meat, Poultry and Fish Beans, Grains, and Flour Dairy and Eggs Slide 6 Local How? Through distributors From food processors Through food service management companies From individual producers From producer co-ops From school gardens Slide 7 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 Slide 8 Volume Distribution Price Time Facilities Staff skills Food safety Acceptance of new foods Challenges, and Solutions!. Challenges Slide 9 Slide 10 Slide 11 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. Slide 12 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. Slide 13 Why is USDA involved? Slide 14 Local Foods and the New Meal Pattern Whats 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 Slide 15 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 Slide 16 FNS Staffing and Offices WRO SWRO MPRO MWRO SERO MARO NERO Slide 17 Farm to School Grants In 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 Slide 18 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 Slide 19 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 Slide 20 Farm to School Myths, Busted Its mainly for farmers. Its mainly about fresh produce. There is a set definition for local. Its dependent on direct deliveries from farmers. Local is always fresher. USDA doesnt support gardens and curriculum integration; it is just interested in the cafeteria. Its 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. Slide 21 www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s:www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s Farm to School resources Farm to School listserv Farm to School grants Farm 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 Slide 22 Monique Hatten Branch Chief Email: monique.hatten@fns.usda.govmonique.hatten@fns.usda.gov Justin Darko Farm to School Coordinator collins.darko@fns.usda.gov Thank you! Questions?