in school cafeterias. Specifically, good food advocates would
like to see $50 million in mandatory funding for Farm to
School programs.
The farm to school concept has been broadly defined What You Can
as a school-based program that connects schools (K-12) with
local farms. Goals include serving healthy meals in school
Do about
cafeterias, improving child nutrition, supporting local and
regional farmers and educating the public about the links be-
tween agriculture, health and nutrition. Already, independent
SChool FooD
farm to school initiatives have begun cropping up around the
country. If Congress mandates such programs through the
By Dr. Susan Rubin
Child Nutrition Act, these programs could flourish in every
part of the country. This would help children to start natu-
rally building healthier eating habits and connect them more
T
he struggle to improve school food was a lonely one
until now. For many years, concerned parents felt mar-
ginalized when they took a public stand against the ex-
closely with where their food comes from.
cessive amounts of sugar and processed foods that are served
Too many of today’s kids are shocked to see that the
in schools. Now that the rest of the population has caught
milk they drink from cartons came from an animal. One
up to this issue, the conversation has changed. Discussions
young girl visiting a farm couldn’t believe that lettuce exists
around healthcare reform now routinely include address-
outside of a plastic bag.
ing our nation’s consumption of food, and especially school
Parents may question whether their child would choose
food, to help reduce our skyrocketing healthcare costs.
baked butternut squash over a butter-slathered biscuit. In all
Josh Viertel is a Westchester County native and the president
seven studies of existing farm to school programs compiled
of Slow Food USA. He says that the way we feed our kids is
in the report Bearing Fruit by the Center for Food Justice at
a reflection of our values. “We cannot, in good conscience,
Occidental College, participating students chose more fresh
continue to make our kids sick by feeding them cheap by-
fruits and vegetables, regardless of the alternative meal op-
products of an industrial food system,” Viertel says. “It is
tion.
time to give kids real food—food that tastes good, is good for
them, is good for the people who grow and prepare it, and is
Community Payback
good for the planet.”
It’s not just the kids who benefit. Farm to school programs
Slow Food USA has launched an innovative plan to raise
regularly translate to more money going to schools because
the bar on school lunches. Their campaign, called Time for
they spark increased participation in school lunch programs
Lunch, includes 3 action steps.
and schools are paid on the number of lunches served. Local
1. Sign the Time for Lunch petition online at slow-
farmers realize more income, which in turn strengthens local
foodusa.org/timeforlunch and pass it on to your friends and
economies and creates jobs.
fellow eaters.
Ecotrust, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, has
published an analysis of the impact of investing school food
2. Contact your legislators by phone or letter. Telling
dollars in the local food economy. The study found that for
your legislators what’s important to you is one of the most
every food dollar spent locally by two school districts in the
powerful ways you can participate in our democracy.
Portland area, an additional 87 cents was spent in Oregon.
3. Organize an Eat In and participate in a national day
Deborah Kane, vice president of Food and Farms pro-
of Action on Labor Day, September 7, 2009. An Eat In is a
grams for Ecotrust, in Portland, says the research confirms
combination of peaceful protest and pot-luck that sends a
that these programs are a viable investment. “Farm to school
powerful message to local school boards and federal legisla-
programs can make an immediate impact on nearly every
tors that school food is important to our nation’s health. The
sector of our state’s economy,” she says. “We knew the effort
national Eat-In on September 7 will tell Congress that it’s time
would likely benefit the Oregon agricultural community and,
to provide America’s children with real food at school.
of course, Oregon’s children. We were encouraged to learn
that the benefits extend far beyond the most obvious.”
Eat Ins are starting to spring up all over Westchester and
Rockland counties. For more information on these issues and
Visit FarmToSchool.org for program details. Help ensure farm
actions, visit slowfoodusa.org/timeforlunch.
to school is a pivotal provision in the reauthorized Child Nu-
trition Act by calling members of Congress through the U.S.
Dr. Susan Rubin is a dentist, holistic nutritionist, mother, and
Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121.
20-year Chappaqua resident. Susan has been involved with
school food advocacy in Westchester and on a national level
Aimee Witteman is the executive director of the National
for over a decade. For more information about her work with
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Support the mission at
SustainableAgriculture.net.
school food programs, visit betterschoolfood.org.

August 2009
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