Local Food in Schools

Yancey County farmers Harold and Sandra Davis were the first "farm to school farmers" in western North Carolina. It was good timing on their part - In 2003 NCDA made available special grant monies for local school systems to purchase from local farms. About the same time, Harold and Sandra participated in the ASAP Transition Program and received a $5000 grant to expand their hydroponic system. This system made it possible for them to grow lettuce year round and supply the Yancey County school system with a local source of lettuce. The Yancey County Health Department proposed a proclamation, written by the Yancey County School Board, to support purchasing food from local farmers.

Knowing that tobacco was on its way out, the staff at ASAP knew that farm to school might provide promise for growers looking for markets. In rural areas, where there might not be thriving farmers' markets or a wealth of restaurants, markets can be scarce. But in every rural county there IS a school and many mouths to feed.

ASAP and the Community Food Security Coalition (www.foodsecurity.org, who works on farm to school on the national level) wrote a grant to USDA/ Risk Management Agency to fund a regional farm to school workshop. The workshop was held in May of 2004 and farmers, Child Nutrition Directors (from six school systems), Extension agents, parents, and others gathered to discuss the benefits and barriers of farm to school. Farmers learned about the struggles of school food service and the Child Nutrition Directors expressed interest in knowing more about local agriculture. Everyone went home with a sense of a growing initiative.

ASAP went home and formed a Farm to School committee.

This committee, comprised of Child Nutrition Directors, farmers and Cooperative Extension from Madison, Yancey and Mitchell counties, Yancey/Mitchell County Health Depts., Blue Ridge Food Ventures, and ASAP, still meets regularly.

ASAP has worked in conjunction with this committee to facilitate schools buying local produce and to implement farm to school promotional events. This past year local food was served in school cafeterias in Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey Counties, as well as in Asheville City schools. The quantity and diversity of products available to schools has varied seasonally and will increase as more farmers become involved and plan with schools in mind.

In Madison County, Growing Minds has been working with Madison Farms (www.madisonfarms.org). This LLC delivers produce from 7 farmers to Asheville City and Madison County schools. Products have included apples, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, red cabbage, cucumbers, collards, squash, decorative pumpkins, bell peppers, water cress, potatoes, collards, turnips and other greens and year round hydroponic lettuce.

The program in Mitchell County got its start with apples from a local orchard. The first day the apples were offered, Gouge Elementary went apple crazy! Kids drew pictures of apples, graphs of apples, songs about apples were sung, and most importantly, apples were tasted! This year Mitchell County plans to buy from at least one new farmers, serving local apples and lettuce.

In Yancey County, where all this began, Sandra and Harold Davis are still supplying the schools with their hydroponic lettuce and other field crops in season.

Obstacles

The Farm to School workshop held in 2004 helped identify some of the issues and challenges we faced in developing a Farm to School program. Cafeteria staff admitted that many of them did not even know what products were grown locally, Child Nutrition Directors and Farmers alike were concerned about costs, distribution, storage and other logistics. Identifying obstacle was the first step, but we did not accept these as excuses for why Farm to School would not work in western North Carolina.

Child Nutrition Director Brenda Spence was encouraged by her superintendent to buy local whenever possible and made it happen in Madison County. Cafeteria managers and staff were hesitant at first, unsure of what to expect from produce straight from the farm. After adjusting to the occasional spider, cafeteria staff now complain if local lettuce does not come in with a delivery. "It just tastes better" one cafeteria manager stated. Although resistance to change has been one of our obstacles to overcome, once folks see the benefits of the program they often become our biggest supporters.

In July of 2005, the Farm to School committee organized field trips for cafeteria staff to visit local farms in Madison, Mitchell and Yancy Counties. After seeing first hand what produce was grown in their county, cafeteria staff, Child Nutrition Directors, Cooperative Extension agents, ASAP staff and Volunteers shared a meal of locally grown food.

Across the country Farm to School programs have developed in different ways, adapting to community needs and differences. Although some programs have handled issues of storage and distribution by a non-profit acting as a broker, ASAP is taking a different approach. The goal is to make this program both profitable for farmers and feasible for local food service. In order to do this sustainably, ASAP has worked towards creating a food system that is not artificially subsidized. Although it takes longer to establish an unsubsidized food system that can meet the demands of schools, it will be sustainable if it is also economically driven.

Production of local products has not yet met the full demand and most local produce is served fresh in salads or as part of a "bar" rather than as a vegetable served with every lunch. Schools have are fast becoming a viable market for farmers in western North Carolina, and we continue to work through obstacles as they arise. In 2006 we hope to increase the numbers of farmers growing for local schools and the diversity of products they are supplying.

Events

Once local food has begun to be served in schools, the next step is publicizing it! Increasing public and community awareness of the program is our current focus. Media publicity, cooking demonstrations, Farmer Profiles, and pormotional events, Farm to School Festivals and construction of this website are all strategies ASAP has used to increase awareness and support of our program. Keep an eye on ASAP's web calendar for upcoming Growing Minds events!

Helpful Links