Maryland2424 school systemsschool systems

1 4501 4501,4501,450 schoolsschools

850,000850,000 studentsstudents,,

450,000450,000 school lunchesschool lunches

6,0006,000 school school foodservice workersfoodservice workers

2010 All engaged in Farm to School

Maryland Home Grown Maryland Home Grown School Lunch WeekSchool Lunch WeekSchool Lunch WeekSchool Lunch Week

Maryland Legislation passed in 2008 Jane Lawton – Jamie Raskin....

Promote the sale of Maryland-grown products in y g pMaryland school meals, and

Connect Maryland Farmers to School Meals Programs andPrograms, and

Educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet healthy diet.

Conduct a Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week September 22-26 2008 September 22-26, 2008 September 14-18,2009 September 13-17, 2010

How do you make an unfunded How do you make an unfunded mandate into amandate into amandate, into a…mandate, into a…A Fun Date Man!A Fun Date Man!

••AgricultureAgriculture••Health Health ea tea t••EducationEducation••NGONGO••AssociationsAssociations••ExtensionExtension••FarmersFarmers••SchoolsSchoolsMIP’MIP’••MIP’sMIP’s

Key PartnersKey Partners

Right people involved

•ask “how” – not “why”y•know their systems•are decision-makers•can make something happen (with no $)•Build relationships based on p

collaboration & consensus

“Start with a small goal and people will always exceed your expectations”always exceed your expectations

Engaged leadersEngaged leaders

HappyHappy Campers

BraveBrave Farmers

Willing Administrators

Committed ChampionsCommitted Champions

Local successesLocal successes

Generous contributors

A goat (optional)g

HappyHappy Clucks (optional)

Easy Menu items

Menu items f i l d dfeaturing Maryland grown products

• Pizza with local peppers,  onions and basil

• Hamburgers w/local cheese • Mac and cheese with• Mac and cheese with 

butternut squash• Maryland veggie sub with 

hcheese• Bison burgers• Cucumber bean saladCucu be bea sa ad• Zucchini tomato salad• Roasted carrots• Maryland veggie wrap

•Applesi•Asian pears

•Carrots•Cabbage•Cabbage•Broccoli•EggsEggs•Green beans•Pears•Peaches•Sweet corn•Watermelon

What’s in your Salad What’s in your Salad ???yy

Maryland Home Grown Lunch WeekMaryland Home Grown Lunch WeekE l E l Examples Examples

Frederick County Apples from Catoctin

Mountain Orchard cantaloupe and watermelon.

Anne Arundel County Arlington Echo Outdoor Arlington Echo Outdoor

Learning Center classes cooked with local foods chocolate zucchini cake salsa, squash mac–n-cheesemac n cheese green beans.

Maryland Home Grown Lunch WeekMaryland Home Grown Lunch WeekE l E l Examples Examples

Cecil County -Cecilton Elementary Asian pears, cherry tomatoes rainbow carrots Calvert school Watermelon sweet corn

Celebrate the SuccessesCelebrate the Successes

Neighbors serving Neighbors

Posters!

Fantastic Fruits and Vegetables!

ChallengesChallenges

• Limited processingLimited processingcapacity

• Connecting local• Connecting local growers to schools

D li h l• Delivery to schools(1,400)

• Recalcitrance 

• Procurement rigidityg y

SolutionsSolutions

Start Small Pick low hanging

(local) fruit(local) fruit Partner

Pa tne Partner Partner

Next StepsNext Steps

Institutionalize the programInstitutionalize the program Seek funding/staffingSeek funding/staffing Identify key roadblocksIdentify key roadblocks Identify resourcesIdentify resources Set a strategic planning processSet a strategic planning process

Identify evaluation opportunitiesIdentify evaluation opportunities Identify evaluation opportunitiesIdentify evaluation opportunities

In the end In the end 

it is all about:it is all about:it is all about: it is all about: 

•• relationshipsrelationships

•• trust and trust and 

•• a focus ona focus on•• a focus on a focus on children’s health.children’s health.

Farm to School Cures Farm to School Cures Obesity Epidemic!Obesity Epidemic!Obesity Epidemic!Obesity Epidemic!

Shelby and ReeseShelby and ReeseShelby and ReeseShelby and Reese

Lilly and MollyLilly and Molly

Molly and VelvetMolly and Velvetyy

Reese and GingerReese and Ginger