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One of my favorite memories from this summer was that of the Frisco Elementary second-graders visiting The Living Classroom greenhouse and community garden. They harvested over 16 pounds of produce for the salad bar at school. Experiencing the students' excitement after pulling carrots out of the soil or picking cucumbers off the vine gave me hope for future generations truly understanding where their food comes from and why they should care.
This month is not only National Farm-to-School Month, but Monday is National Food Day. According to the Farm to School Network, there are currently 2,352 farm-to- school programs in all 50 states. LiveWell Colorado is a big fan of the farm-to-school movement. It recently created an online (free to download) Colorado Farm-to- School Primer; an excellent resource for teachers, parents and students.
Farm-to-school is all about “getting healthy, local, sustainably produced foods into Colorado schools.” Researchers found that 1,768 public schools in Colorado serve around 384,504 lunches on a daily basis to roughly 843,316 students. With child obesity gaining momentum at an alarming rate, communities are growing more and more concerned about how healthy our food really is at home and in the classroom.
The primer preaches that healthy food can be as easy as substituting processed foods for fresh and local ingredients. Instead of precooked beef and French fries, cafeterias can offer grass-fed beef and local, organic oven-baked potatoes. Local food can also inspire healthy communities, economies and environments. As an added benefit, it reduces food transportation and energy while supporting local farmers and ranchers.
So how do we get started here in
Summit County? The primer advises taking small steps. Cafeteria staff may introduce a “special” meal into the schools that uses locally produced food. “Local lunches” can be held on holidays and Colorado Proud School Meal Day. The primer also recommends focusing on a single item in the cafeteria as a pilot program for the rest of the menu. For example, the salad bar is an easy place to feature local vegetables from nearby farms or community gardens.
You can get involved in your local food policy council (FPC). The Summit County FPC is co-chaired by High Country Conservation Center and the Summit Prevention Alliance. This summer, the FPC established a School Lunch Task Force made up of representatives from the school board, school food services, parents, and other concerned citizens.
The FPC determined one major hurdle for a Summit farm-to-school program is supply and demand. Does Summit County have enough local food producers to supply vegetables, meat and dairy to all schools, especially during the school season? Starting the dialogue now with local farmers is essential in building lasting relationships if we want the program to succeed.
Another key piece to the farm-to- school equation is education. Students who have visited community gardens like The Living Classroom in Frisco are more in tune with eating vegetables produced in their backyard.
Finally, you can also start the conversation at home. You, too, can honor National Food Day on Monday. Have
a simple farm-to-table talk with your kids. Cook a sustainably produced dinner with friends and discuss local food issues. Go meatless on Monday and
tell your co-workers about the benefits. Blog about the importance of supporting a fair farm bill in 2012. Join the School Lunch Task Force. These are just a few things you can do to celebrate National Food Day.
Summit County showed its support of Food Day with Resolution 2011-61, adopted Oct. 11, by the Board of County Commissioners, “Proclaiming and Recognizing Oct. 24 of each year as Food Day.” To read the resolution or for more information on local sustainable food programs, visit www.highcountryconservation.org.
Eartha Steward is written by Jennifer Santry and Caitlin Akkerhuis, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org.
This month is not only National Farm-to-School Month, but Monday is National Food Day. According to the Farm to School Network, there are currently 2,352 farm-to- school programs in all 50 states. LiveWell Colorado is a big fan of the farm-to-school movement. It recently created an online (free to download) Colorado Farm-to- School Primer; an excellent resource for teachers, parents and students.
Farm-to-school is all about “getting healthy, local, sustainably produced foods into Colorado schools.” Researchers found that 1,768 public schools in Colorado serve around 384,504 lunches on a daily basis to roughly 843,316 students. With child obesity gaining momentum at an alarming rate, communities are growing more and more concerned about how healthy our food really is at home and in the classroom.
The primer preaches that healthy food can be as easy as substituting processed foods for fresh and local ingredients. Instead of precooked beef and French fries, cafeterias can offer grass-fed beef and local, organic oven-baked potatoes. Local food can also inspire healthy communities, economies and environments. As an added benefit, it reduces food transportation and energy while supporting local farmers and ranchers.
So how do we get started here in
Summit County? The primer advises taking small steps. Cafeteria staff may introduce a “special” meal into the schools that uses locally produced food. “Local lunches” can be held on holidays and Colorado Proud School Meal Day. The primer also recommends focusing on a single item in the cafeteria as a pilot program for the rest of the menu. For example, the salad bar is an easy place to feature local vegetables from nearby farms or community gardens.
You can get involved in your local food policy council (FPC). The Summit County FPC is co-chaired by High Country Conservation Center and the Summit Prevention Alliance. This summer, the FPC established a School Lunch Task Force made up of representatives from the school board, school food services, parents, and other concerned citizens.
The FPC determined one major hurdle for a Summit farm-to-school program is supply and demand. Does Summit County have enough local food producers to supply vegetables, meat and dairy to all schools, especially during the school season? Starting the dialogue now with local farmers is essential in building lasting relationships if we want the program to succeed.
Another key piece to the farm-to- school equation is education. Students who have visited community gardens like The Living Classroom in Frisco are more in tune with eating vegetables produced in their backyard.
Finally, you can also start the conversation at home. You, too, can honor National Food Day on Monday. Have
a simple farm-to-table talk with your kids. Cook a sustainably produced dinner with friends and discuss local food issues. Go meatless on Monday and
tell your co-workers about the benefits. Blog about the importance of supporting a fair farm bill in 2012. Join the School Lunch Task Force. These are just a few things you can do to celebrate National Food Day.
Summit County showed its support of Food Day with Resolution 2011-61, adopted Oct. 11, by the Board of County Commissioners, “Proclaiming and Recognizing Oct. 24 of each year as Food Day.” To read the resolution or for more information on local sustainable food programs, visit www.highcountryconservation.org.
Eartha Steward is written by Jennifer Santry and Caitlin Akkerhuis, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org.
