1. Kentucky Department of Agriculture Healthy Kids Conference 11-5-03 Jim Mansfield, Director Division of Horticulture & Aquaculture

2. KY Farm-to-School Program To provide high quality fresh local food to KY public institutions at a fair price while at the same time providing sales and income opportunities for KY farms. MISSION STATEMENT

3. Farm Sales Potential è 1665 Schools in KY (2001) è Approximately 82,275,000 meals served annually è Creates marketing opportunities for produce, dairy products and meat from KY family farms

4. Kentucky’s Unique Situation  89,000 Farms, mostly small  3.1 Billion Dollars in Agriculture Sales (2002)  Approx. 33% Crop & 66% Livestock  Tobacco up to 1 Billion in Sales (1998)  50% Cut in Quota  Tobacco: –High Value per Acre –Not Perishable –Price and Sales are Guaranteed

5. Produce Marketing Four key points needed to establish a viable wholesale market –Quality –Volume –Service –Price

6. Central Kentucky Growers’ Association 2190 Cincinnati Pike Georgetown, KY 40324 502-863-0002 Cumberland Farm Products 469 East Highway 90 By-pass Monticello, KY 42633 606-348-8405 West Kentucky Growers Co-op 806 KY 279 North Owensboro, KY 42301 270-764-2667 Green River Produce Marketing Association PO Box 71 Horse Cave, KY 42749 270-786-4323 Areas serviced by Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable marketing cooperatives

7. Farm to School - History  Idea took root in May 2000  A joint interest and effort by USDA, KDA, UK Extension and KY Dept. of Education  Pilot program in 2000 - regions 4 & 8  Sales of cabbage, broccoli and fall decorative items (mini pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn)

8. Farm to School - History  2001& 2002 state-wide program  98 Schools participated  KDA Marketing coordinated crop offerings and delivery schedules  KDA Food Distribution coordinated distribution and school produce orders  DOD coordinated bid process, quality control and payments to growers

9. Farm-to-School Menu 2002  Seedless Watermelons  Yukon Gold Potatoes  Fall Décor Kit  Red Cabbage  Green Cabbage  Broccoli

10. Advantages of Kentucky FTS  Allows schools an opportunity to support local agriculture and purchase fresh products  Offers a “teachable moment” about food  Provides an additional market for KY farms  State-wide distribution of products  Prices are competitive with national markets  Quality control  Multiple products supplied by multiple growers

11. Challenges  Most KY produce = June, July & August  2000 thru 2002 MO was cumbersome  Schools have limited produce preparation abilities  Tracking KY products - is this working and are we getting what we asked for?  New crops and or new time frames are needed  Program loyalty- patience please!

12. The Future  Work mainly through the DOD vendors  Encourage early and late KY produce crops  Develop fresh-cut and processing opportunities  Look for ways to link individual farms with local schools

13. HAPPY CUSTOMERS !!!

14. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

15. Daviess County Schools Ms. Lisa Sims Food Service Director

16. Daviess County Schools utilize Farm to School Program  Support local farmers  Fresh, quality products  Efficient way to use Commodity Dollars

17. Farm to School Purchases for 2002-2003  Seedless Watermelons –290 melons, $2297  Green Cabbage- 40/25lb, $233  Broccoli – 60 bushels, $856  Fall Décor Kit- 30 kits, $300  Red Cabbage  Yukon Gold Potatoes

18. DCPS Farm to School Products for 2003-2004  Request KY Grown on Fax Cover Sheets when requesting produce orders from the Department of Defense.  This year Watermelons have been ordered

19. DOD Produce  Encourages schools to offer more fresh fruit and vegetable choices  Cuts out the middle man of receiving fresh items through commodity program

20. More Salad!  For healthier choices  To help meet nutrient requirements  Justify Salad Bars for teachers