farm to school to grow program - school nutrition · fy 2013 ‐fy 2016 • 300 projects ... •...

© COPYRIGHT 2016 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION – #ANC16 – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Making Farm to School Work: Resources to Grow 

your Program

Growing Stronger Together

Growing Stronger Together

National Farm to School Network is a hub for:

Resources People Policy

Information Networking Advocacy

Connecting people to:

Growing Stronger Together

Growing Stronger Together

Why farm to school?Enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing

and education practices at schools and preschools

Kids WIN Farmers WIN Communities WIN

Growing Stronger Together

Kids Benefit

At school● Increased fruit and veggie consumption● Increased physical activity● Increased school meal participation

At home● Parents increase ability and interest in

incorporating healthier foods into family diets.

● Increased knowledge among early care parents of local farmers’ markets.

● Children asking for healthier purchases (early care).

Growing Stronger Together

Farmers Benefit

• Expand market opportunity, income potential• Sell ‘surplus’ product and ugly duckling produce • Diversify market, help manage risk• Increase demand and awareness for local foods

Growing Stronger Together

Community Benefits

• Circulates money within the community to support the local and state economy

• Creates more jobs • Connects school nutrition

staff directly with food producers to offer increased selection of products for school meals

Growing Stronger Together

Thank You!

Stay in Touch:erin@farmtoschool.org

@farmtoschool

USDA’s Office of Community Food Systems

Christina ConellSNA ANC | July 2016

HHFKA 2010Section 243: Access to Local Foods

The Secretary shall create a Farm to School Program to1. Distribute grant funding to improve access to local foods in schools. 2. Provide training and technical assistance to improve access to local foods in 

schools.3. Disseminate research and data on existing programs and opportunities for 

expansion.

Local Food

Food Education

Grants

Farm to School Grant Awards To Date

FY 2013 ‐ FY 2016• 300 projects• 49 states, DC, Virgin Islands• Over $20M• Requests from 1,000+ 

projects seeking ~$75 M

Summary of Grant AwardsA few things we learned: 

• Grantees planned many strategies for achieving the goal of increasing  access to local foods in schools. 

• Projects served a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced‐price meals. 

• Strong partnership data suggest the potential for widespread collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community‐based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners. 

Technical Assistance

Assess state programs

Research

www.farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov 

• reduced food waste (18%)• lower school meal program costs (21%)• greater acceptance of the new meal pattern (28%)• increased participation (17%)• greater community support  (39%)

76% of respondents (3,002 out of 3,954 districts) experienced at least one of the following benefits:

2015 Farm to School Census tell us…

Our E‐letter, The Dirt!

Delivered every other Tuesday,  chock full of updates, webinar info, relevant news, and field notes! More than 20,000 subscribers.

Subscribe at www.usda.gov/farmtoschool 

© COPYRIGHT 2016 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION – #ANC16 – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Farm to School in ActionBetti Wiggins, Executive DirectorDetroit Public Schools Office of School Nutrition

Build Support using the 3 P’s – Public, Private and Philanthropic Partners

Russell Street Deli

DPS Office of School Nutrition

Detroit Public Schools Office 

of School Nutrition

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Fresh Fruits & Vegetable Program

Detroit School Garden 

Collaborative

Local Procurement

87 schools

Drew Farms 

(3 acres)

School Gardens

(78 schools)

30%

100,000 meals per day

141 schools

Opportunities in the Cafeteria

• Fresher food• Increased variety• Greater ability to specify needs• Increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables• Hands‐on teaching tools• Good PR• Support local community and economy

7/15/2016 Enterprise Services

Opportunities for Farmers

• Expanding market opportunity• Market for “seconds”

• Long‐term benefits• Stable, steady markets• Market diversity and risk management• Cultivation of the next generation of eaters and buyers• “Free” promotion to whole school community

7/15/2016 Enterprise Services

Thirty percent of seasonal produce is purchased from the State of Michigan.

Detroit Public Schools’ Office of School Nutrition is the School Food Authority for the following:

• 91 Detroit Public Schools• 15 Education Achievement Authority Schools• 26 Public School Academies including those in Southfield, Pontiac and Ypsilanti• 1 Catholic School

Potatoesfrom Kalkaska County

Acorn Squash from Grand Traverse County

Corn, Butternut Squash and Salad Greensfrom Wayne County (DPS Drew Farms)

Apples from Kent County

Blueberriesfrom Berrien County

Office of School Nutrition’s (OSN)LOCAL FOOD FACTS

Peachesfrom Van Buren County

Asparagusfrom Muskegon County

Know your school Know their food

USDA sponsored program

However, you should 

7/15/2016 Enterprise Services

© COPYRIGHT 2016 SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION – #ANC16 – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Questions?