Natalie Leffler Rehurek Greeley-Evans School District 6 Farm to School

What is Farm to School? Federal program to assist schools, state agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations, and agricultural producer groups with grants and technical assistance Formally established with the passage of Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act in 2010 Main goal: improve access to local foods Also includes hands-on learning activities School Gardens Farm Visits/Tours Farmer in the Classroom Visits Culinary Classes Integration of food-related curriculum, aligned with standards, for education within the classroom Farm to School is a federal program that is supported with grants and technical assistance with the aim of improving access to local foods. Farm to School has been in existence as a program for a number of years, but was formally established with the passage of HHFKA in 2010. Along with local procurement, Farm to School programming includes school gardens, farm field trips, ranchers and farmers visiting classrooms, culinary and nutrition education, and curriculum integration based on food and agriculture that reinforces learning and aligns to state standards.

Farm to School: 4 Years Review Two Farm to School Consensus surveys have been conducted by the USDA 42% of school districts reported they participated in Farm to School activities Another 16% of districts surveyed plan to start Farm to School activities in the future $790 million spent in local purchases Top 5 categories of local food purchases: Fruit (78%) Vegetables (75%) Milk (40%) Baked Goods (21%) Other Dairy [excluding liquid milk] (18%) *Look for future growth in plant-based proteins, herbs, meat and poultry, eggs, and grains Since its formal organization in 2010, Farm to School has conducted two surveys to gauge participation and impact, as well as to predict future trends and growth. The most recent consensus data from 2015 was published, and 70% of school districts surveyed participated. This survey found that on a national scale, 42% of school districts are currently participating in F2S activities, and that another 16% of school districts reported they plan to incorporate some sort of F2S programming in the future. The consensus also found that $790 million were spent on locally procured foods, and that fruits and vegetables are the top two food categories accounting for local purchases. The USDA anticipates increased procurement of plant-based proteins, meat, poultry, eggs, and grains.

Farm to School: Greeley-Evans D6 A decade in the making: Centralized meal production 10-14,000 meals per day prepared 80% from scratch- main and side dishes 25% of annual food budget spent on local foods Milk, meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables Seasonal, rotating menus Salad bars at every school, every day Food Hub Development: Working towards full cook-chill operation 13 school districts within a 30 mile radius Let’s quickly look at a local Farm to School program at Greeley Evans District 6; D6 began their programming ten years ago, with a $250 purchase for a flat of cherry tomatoes, that has now grown into a national model. About ten years go, the district centralized meal production, turned to a from-scratch cooking model, and began incorporating locally sourced foods. Fast forward to today, 80% of the meals and sides served are produced from scratch and 25% of the annual food budget is spent on local foods which has led to increased meal participation, improved nutritional content, and decreased food waste. District 6 is working through attaining approval and developing a full cook-chill operation through an in-house food hub, with the goal of servicing neighboring school districts and other institutions with locally sourced, and from-scratched prepared items as salad bar items or marinara/red sauce for pizza and pasta.

Why Farm to School Economic development Public health Education Increase economic activity and re-circulation Increased meal participation in schools, generating more revenue through meal programs (+ 9% average) Public health Supports development of healthy eating habits Improves nutritional content of school foods Increased access to nutritious and local foods Education Increased knowledge and awareness about ag, healthy eating, local foods, nutrition, growing cycles, seasonality, etc. Enhanced overall academic achievement Community Engagement Increased awareness and interest in local procurement Environment Reduced food waste, packaging, and transportation miles There are several benefits of Farm to School activities for school districts, students, producers, and the community. This is a list of the most common benefits, and is not all inclusive. Local procurement increases local economic activity and also increases how many students choose to eat school meals, which increases a school’s revenue through meal programs. Activities, such as taste tests and promotion of local foods, supports the development of healthy eating habits which is even more impactful when these habits are formed at an early age. Because local procurement reduces transportation distances and timeframes, the nutritional content of school meals are improved due to freshness. Numerous studies show, and many of us may have personally experienced, that we are not at our best when we are hungry or malnourished. Improving access to nutritious foods is important; many school districts and the communities they serve report high free and reduced meal numbers, which is indicative of a communities' poverty level, and school meals may be the only meals received by some students. Farm to school increases student’s knowledge and awareness of agriculture and a number of related topics from natural systems to food systems. Academic achievement is enhanced and supported not only by increased nutritional content of locally sourced foods, but also by reinforced and project based learning such as in school gardens. Farm to School programs can also increase a community’s awareness and interest in local procurement and supporting agriculture. The last benefit I will mention, is the positive environmental impacts including lessened food waste, reduced packaging, and lower number of transportation miles.

Become Involved in Farm to School Procurement School Garden Curriculum Integration Form a team and collaborate Form a team and make a plan Volunteer your ranch or farm for a field trip Stakeholders: local farmers, administration, foodservice staff, students, parents, community organizations Determine training and resource needs Volunteer to visit a classroom ID funding ID curriculum to connect to the classroom Donate food and/or time for a taste-test There are numerous ways to become involved in Farm to School, and I organized them into three categories. If you are a farmer or rancher interested in becoming involved with local procurement, I suggest reaching out to your school’s foodservice director to discuss what products you can offer- be prepared to discuss cost per unit, available quantities, ordering and delivery logistics, and government bids. If you are a parent or community member, I suggest forming a team and tapping into collaborative power; include stakeholders that can be persuasive, make decisions, and are important to the conversation. I have handouts and factsheets that offer tips and strategies regarding local procurement and working with a school district for producers and community members, and would be happy to speak more about it with anyone interested. If school gardens interest you, I also suggest forming a team and including important stakeholders such as the school’s principal, interested teachers, and facilities or grounds crew to form a plan to install a garden. There are numerous grants offered to financially support school gardens, as well as organizations that have developed worthwhile garden-based curriculum; Denver Urban Gardeners, CO Foundation for Ag, and the Edible Schoolyard are a few of my favorite organizations offering this type of curriculum- there are several! If your school already has a garden, I would bet they are looking for volunteers, especially over the summer months when school is not in session. If curriculum integration interests you, and you are a farmer or rancher, you could contact your local school or district and offer your property for field trips, or offer your time and expertise for a classroom visit to discuss what your raise or produce. If you are a parent or community member, you could offer your time to volunteer at the school or to donate product or sponsor a taste-test, or to lead a ag or food based lesson plan. There is no one way to participate in Farm to School- anytime we can broaden a student’s food horizon or introduce them to agricultural concepts is a success!