Farm to School Farm to School

What is Farm to School ? These programs connect schools with local farms with the objectives of: Serving healthy meals in school cafeterias Improving student nutrition Providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime Supporting small, local farmers   Why is it important? Help children eat healthier, realized where food actually comes from, and it helps strengthen the local economy because money is being put back into the community. It’s a win, win all around.

National Examples to Follow! These programs connect schools with local farms: Minneapolis, Minnesota: http://nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/appendix_5_-_farm_to_school_rfp_fresh_produce.pdf Chicago Public Schools: http://www.cps.edu/About_CPS/Departments/Documents/Nutrition/K_8LunchMay.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKqacgGdOMs&feature=youtu.be   Chicago is feeding 400,000 lunches at 695 schools. If they can, we can too!

The Indiana Farm to School Network (IFSN) was created to grow Farm to School efforts in Indiana

Indiana Farm to School Network’s Organizational Structure Program initiated in Fall 2012 Department of Education dedicated a person to oversee the program Divided into working groups: 1.Procure ment 2.Educati on 3.Outreac h 4. F2Presch ool To help make this vision a reality, the Indiana Farm to School Network (IFSN) serves to provide leadership and support to connect and strengthen the farm to school movement across Indiana. IFSN is comprised of a steering committee and three subgroups: education, procurement, and grant. With a fourth one, farm to preschool, recently added in January.

What is the Indiana Farm to School Network? A group of individuals with a vision of an Indiana where local farms, local markets & local schools work together to create healthier kids. With a mission of connecting family farms & schools through education, local food purchasing, and outreach.

What does farm to school look like in Indiana? Success Stories: Becky Landess, North Manchester Batesville Schools-One in a Melon Award! View: Fencerows to Foodshed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtGnG8_uzp8

What does farm to school look like in Indiana? IT IS HAPPENING! BE A PART OF OUR GROWING FARM TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY!

Across Indiana, schools are using local food items in the cafeteria

and students get to taste new foods

Students are planting school gardens and eating what they grow

Students are learning about local agriculture

and visiting local farms

Teachers are incorporating agriculture education in the classroom

High school students are learning about composting, waste management, and agriculture science

Hagerstown high school students are taking their classroom outdoors

Farm to School: Procurement Help Farm to School

Three Sources Source Local Farms Food Hubs Produce Company Suggestions Pros/Cons Local Farms Use Purdue’s Map, Indiana State Department List, current relationships. Can take more time, involves another delivery but could support a neighbor farm Food Hubs This Old Farm , Hoosier Harvest Market Place These organizations aggregate only from local farms so you know the product is local. This Old Farm works to use a delivery company that you already get a delivery from to limit trucking in. Source identification a big part of the service! Produce Company Piazza You may already have a relationship with a company that can provide local products!

Three Procurement Types Micro Purchase Under $3,000. Give Local purchasing a try! Informal Bid Under $150,000 Three bids and a buy. Send to three Local Food Hubs/farmers to encourage local procurement. Formal Bid Over $150,000 Won’t it be great when your formal bid has language in it to encourage local procurement.

 X Supplier Name: Supplier A: This Old Farm Supplier B: Piazza Produce Supplier C: Hoosier Harvest Market Items to be Purchased: Product specifications Delivery Frequency: Delivery, one site on October 12th Bid will be honored for: month of October Quantity estimated to be purchased   Unit Price Extended Price (Quantity x Unit Price) *BS () Kale, fresh, untrimmed, 1.5lb bags 1,000 bags (1.5#) $3.31 $3,310  $3.25 $3,250 X $4.10 $4,100 Total: *Bidder Selected (BS) *Bidder Selected (BS); school can award all items to one bidder (lowest total price) and meet product and delivery specifications. School need to tell the bidders which option they will use for awarding the purchase when they are asking for pricing. Method of contact: Phone, Fax, Email or In Person Fax Phone In Person Name of person providing bid: This Old Farm Piazza Produce Hoosier Harvest Market Date contacted: September 4, 2015; E-mailed Jessica – Price attached via e-mail September 4, 2015; E-mailed Rachel – Price attached via e-mail September 4, 2015; Called Michael Morrow – Price received over phone Additional Notes: Worked with Jessica Smith at 765-324-2161, orders@thisoldfarminc.com, and Jessica@thisoldfarminc.com Worked with Rachel Miller at 317-646-4673 and rmiller@piazzaproduce.com Best overall pricing and meets product and delivery specifications. Worked with Michael Morrow at 317-800-0312, info@hoosierharvestmarket.com, and www.hoosierharvestmarket.com Signature of person completing this form: Sam Anderson Date: September 11, 2015

Indiana’s Farm to School Toolkit

USDA Local Procurement Guide for Schools http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/F2S_Procuring_Local_Foods_Child_Nutrition_Prog_Guide.pdf

RESOURCES www.farmtoschool.org www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/farm-school National Farm to School www.farmtoschool.org Indiana Department of Education www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/farm-school IFSN encourages schools to discuss with their distributers about local produce availability and to make close connections with local producers in their communities.  To help you get started with farm to school, the Indiana Department of Education Farm to School page, as well as, the NFSN has numerous helpful resources.

Farm to School Market or Farm Production? Which came first…………… Chicken or egg? Farm to School Market or Farm Production? Time to stand up!

Contact me for Questions Jessica Smith jessica@thisoldfarminc.com Indiana is a rural state with many wonderful, vibrant farm to school happenings. IFSN wants to hear your farm to school activities.  Please email Maggie with any success stories you may want to share! Contact me for Questions Jessica Smith jessica@thisoldfarminc.com