Making Farm-to-School Making Farm-to-School ConnectionsConnections

Farm to School GoalsFarm to School Goals

Provide fresh, seasonal produce to students Provide fresh, seasonal produce to students Reconnect young people to the sources of their foodReconnect young people to the sources of their food Encourage healthy, informed eating habits that last Encourage healthy, informed eating habits that last

a lifetimea lifetime Expand agricultural markets and improve viability Expand agricultural markets and improve viability

for small and mid-size farms for small and mid-size farms Recognize the land and water stewardship role of Recognize the land and water stewardship role of

responsible farmingresponsible farming

Farm to SchoolFarm to School Getting locally grown foods into school Getting locally grown foods into school

lunches and snack programslunches and snack programs Education about food, nutrition, Education about food, nutrition,

agriculture and the environmentagriculture and the environment Experiential learning through school Experiential learning through school

gardens and hands-on food skills gardens and hands-on food skills projectsprojects

Farm visitsFarm visits Farmers and chefs in the classroomFarmers and chefs in the classroom

Farm to School Program (WSDA)Farm to School Program (WSDA)

WA Grown Fresh Fruit and WA Grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grants (OSPI)Vegetable Grants (OSPI)

Eliminates low-cost bidding Eliminates low-cost bidding requirements in school food requirements in school food purchasespurchases

Encourages School Gardens to Encourages School Gardens to grow food for educational grow food for educational purposes and offer the food for purposes and offer the food for consumption in school snack consumption in school snack and meal programs.and meal programs.

The Local Farms-Healthy Kids Act:The Local Farms-Healthy Kids Act:policy changes relating to schoolspolicy changes relating to schools

WSDA Farm-to-School WSDA Farm-to-School ProgramProgram Assist producers, distributors Assist producers, distributors

and brokers to market WA and brokers to market WA Grown food to schoolsGrown food to schools

Assist schools in connecting Assist schools in connecting with local producerswith local producers

Identify and share education Identify and share education resources on the nutritional, resources on the nutritional, environmental, and economic environmental, and economic benefits of locally grown foodsbenefits of locally grown foods

Support efforts such as school Support efforts such as school gardens and farm visitsgardens and farm visits

WA Grown Fruit and Vegetable WA Grown Fruit and Vegetable ProgramProgram

Increase children’s consumption of WA gown, packed and Increase children’s consumption of WA gown, packed and processed fresh, dried and frozen fruits and vegetablesprocessed fresh, dried and frozen fruits and vegetables

Expand variety of WA grown fruits and vegetables children Expand variety of WA grown fruits and vegetables children experience throughout the school yearexperience throughout the school year

Make a difference in children’s diets to positively impact Make a difference in children’s diets to positively impact present and future healthpresent and future health

Expand the market for locally grown produceExpand the market for locally grown produce

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THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES PHOTO BY KEVIN P. CASEY  Carey Thornton, second from left, from Washington State University King County Extension's Food $ense program, helps students harvest green beans and other vegetables in an Auburn School District garden. Food from the garden is used in meals students prepare as part of a summer program. [From Seattle’s Child, Sept. 2008]

WA Grown Fruits and Vegetables WA Grown Fruits and Vegetables ProgramProgram

25 schools around the state25 schools around the state

32 cents per student to spend on snacks 32 cents per student to spend on snacks (free to students)(free to students)

Fresh, dried or frozenFresh, dried or frozen

Grown and packed or processed in WAGrown and packed or processed in WA

Encourages community partnershipsEncourages community partnerships

Successes from the WA Grown Successes from the WA Grown Fruits and Vegetable ProgramFruits and Vegetable Program

Students better able to focus – “They work better Students better able to focus – “They work better the days they have their snack.”the days they have their snack.”

““When my students eat the snack they have When my students eat the snack they have more energy at the end of the day.”more energy at the end of the day.”

Parents say that when their child gets home they Parents say that when their child gets home they aren’t as hungry as they were before the snack aren’t as hungry as they were before the snack program and can wait for dinner, which has program and can wait for dinner, which has reduced the temptation for unhealthful snacks.reduced the temptation for unhealthful snacks.

Discipline referrals are down—1/2 of what they Discipline referrals are down—1/2 of what they were last year. The school feels the program is were last year. The school feels the program is definitely part of the drop.definitely part of the drop.

How can we start successful How can we start successful farm-to-school connections?farm-to-school connections?

Be prepared to think creatively and collaborate for solutions Be prepared to think creatively and collaborate for solutions that work for everyone.that work for everyone.

Find committed, enthusiastic partners.Find committed, enthusiastic partners.

Start small—salad bar items, harvest events, highlighted Start small—salad bar items, harvest events, highlighted menu items.menu items.

Consider what is grown here and work toward seasonal Consider what is grown here and work toward seasonal menu planning.menu planning.

Provide an informative, appealing and comfortable food Provide an informative, appealing and comfortable food environment.environment.

Tie in educational resources and ideas to bring the students Tie in educational resources and ideas to bring the students into the project.into the project.

Questions for school district staff:

How many schools? How many students?

What kind of product do you need, and in what quantities? (i.e. individual vs. central kitchens, daily cooking vs. reheating? budget, time, staff, equipment and skill for processing of raw product?)

Current distributor (and is that distributor willing/able to provide and identify WA Grown product?)

How much liability insurance do they require of food vendors?

Questions for farms:

What do you grow, and in what quantities? (pack sizes and overall)

What form is the food in? (washed, bagged, cut, etc.)

What is your minimum order for delivery?

How do you require payment, and is this flexible?

Would you be interested in partnering for educational purposes?

Do you have liability insurance (and for what amounts)?

Do you have any kind of food safety or other certification? (If not, would you be interested in getting a USDA GAP certification with WSDA inspection?)

Partnerships with Partnerships with Distributors and ProcessorsDistributors and Processors

Questions for distributorsQuestions for distributors Do you offer Washington grown products?Do you offer Washington grown products? Can you identify them on your buy lists?Can you identify them on your buy lists? Would you be interested in buying more from local farms?Would you be interested in buying more from local farms?

Questions for processorsQuestions for processors Do you offer products made from WA grown ingredients?Do you offer products made from WA grown ingredients? Do you offer minimally processed fruits and vegetables Do you offer minimally processed fruits and vegetables

grown in Washington?grown in Washington? Can you identify which products are grown in Can you identify which products are grown in

Washington?Washington? Are you interested in working with local farms to process Are you interested in working with local farms to process

their produce for schools?their produce for schools?

Putting a Face on Food Putting a Face on Food ProductionProduction

Jubilee Farm – Carnation, WAJubilee Farm – Carnation, WA

Farmer Erick Haakenson grows carrots and lettuce on his farm in the Snoqualmie River Valley. The river provides water to keep his crops growing.

Farmer Erick also raises chickens, who lay eggs and provide meat for his family to eat. The chickens also help him by eating the bugs that might otherwise feast on the salad greens and other fruits and vegetables.

Providing Experience and Providing Experience and OwnershipOwnership

School Gardens & Hands-On School Gardens & Hands-On Food Skills Lessons ...Food Skills Lessons ...

Foster pride and understandingFoster pride and understanding

Encourage kids to try new foodsEncourage kids to try new foods

Does a School Garden Sound Ambitious?

•Team up with parent groups, teachers, community organizations

•Find a local garden to visit regularly

•Start with growing a few container plants or herbs

Resource: Resource: WSU King County Extension Curriculum–

Food$ense CHANGE Food$ense CHANGE (aligned to the WA Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR's) and Grade Level Expectations (GLE's))

Going Back to the SourceGoing Back to the SourceFarm Visits Farm Visits

Shared experience to Shared experience to build onbuild on

Provides fun and positive Provides fun and positive framework for discussionframework for discussion

Easy to tailor experience Easy to tailor experience for all agesfor all ages

Harvest season as school Harvest season as school year begins – great way to year begins – great way to start!start!

Resource: Resource: WSU King County Extension Fact Sheet - “How to Make a Local Farm a Classroom for a “How to Make a Local Farm a Classroom for a

Day”Day” (and how to link to WA State EALRs)

Making the Connection for Making the Connection for KidsKids

Work with teachers to link school gardens and food and Work with teachers to link school gardens and food and farming education with science, math, language arts, farming education with science, math, language arts, social studies, etc.social studies, etc.

Consider food culture - include preparation, Consider food culture - include preparation, presentation, sharing and culturally appropriate foods in presentation, sharing and culturally appropriate foods in programs with studentsprograms with students

Resource: Resource: Center for Ecoliteracy Book ““Big Ideas: Linking Food, Culture, Health, and the Big Ideas: Linking Food, Culture, Health, and the

Environment”Environment” (aligned to AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy)

ResourcesResources WSU King County Extension Farm-to-School Connections Team - WSU King County Extension Farm-to-School Connections Team -

www.farmtoschoolwashington.orgwww.farmtoschoolwashington.org (with links to a range of curriculum materials and other resources for (with links to a range of curriculum materials and other resources for connecting food, nutrition, culture, farming and environment)connecting food, nutrition, culture, farming and environment)

WSU Food$ense - WSU Food$ense - CHANGECHANGE Curriculum and Curriculum and Harvest of the Season Harvest of the Season www.king.wsu.edu/nutrition/change.htmwww.king.wsu.edu/nutrition/change.htm

The Center for Ecoliteracy - The Center for Ecoliteracy - Rethinking School Lunch Rethinking School Lunch and and Big Ideas: Linking Big Ideas: Linking Food, Culture, Health and Environment Food, Culture, Health and Environment www.ecoliteracy.org/programs/rsl.htmlwww.ecoliteracy.org/programs/rsl.html

Teachers College Columbia University - Teachers College Columbia University - Linking Food and the Environment - Linking Food and the Environment - LiFE LiFE www.tc.columbia.eduwww.tc.columbia.edu/life/life

National Farm-to-School Network National Farm-to-School Network www.farmtoschool.orgwww.farmtoschool.org

Contact Info:Contact Info:

Tricia Sexton KovacsTricia Sexton Kovacs

WSDA Farm-to-School ProgramWSDA Farm-to-School Program

Tkovacs@agr.wa.govTkovacs@agr.wa.gov

(360) 902-2029(360) 902-2029