This year, Congress plans
to reconsider the Child
Nutrition Act—federal
legislation that authorizes
the school lunch program—
and a grassroots effort is
underway to improve the
state of affairs in school
cafeterias.
fat and salt. The Department of Ag-
riculture’s School Nutrition Dietary
Assessment, which collected data from
130 school districts across the country,
determined that only 6 to 7 percent met
all nutrition standards in the federal
government’s Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. Most of the meals had
too much fat or saturated fat or too
few calories.
Lobbying for Change
This year, Congress plans to reconsider
the Child Nutrition Act—federal legisla-
tion that authorizes the school lunch
program—and a grassroots effort is
underway to improve the state of affairs couldn’t believe that lettuce exists out- lar spent locally by two school districts
in school cafeterias. Specifically, good side of a plastic bag. in the Portland area, an additional 87
food advocates would like to see $50 Parents may question whether their cents was spent in Oregon.
million in mandatory funding for Farm child would choose baked butternut Deborah Kane, vice president of
to School programs. squash over a butter-slathered biscuit. Food and Farms programs for Ecotrust,
The farm to school concept has been In all seven studies of existing farm to in Portland, says the research confirms
broadly defined as a school-based school programs compiled in the report that these programs are a viable invest-
program that connects schools (K-12) Bearing Fruit by the Center for Food Jus- ment. “Farm to school programs can
with local farms. Goals include serving tice at Occidental College, participating make an immediate impact on nearly
healthy meals in school cafeterias, im- students chose more fresh fruits and every sector of our state’s economy,”
proving child nutrition, supporting local vegetables, regardless of the alternative she says. “We knew the effort would
and regional farmers and educating the meal option. likely benefit the Oregon agricultural
public about the links between agri- community and, of course, Oregon’s
culture, health and nutrition. Already, Community Payback children. We were encouraged to learn
independent farm to school initiatives It’s not just the kids who benefit. Farm that the benefits extend far beyond the
have begun cropping up around the to school programs regularly trans- most obvious.”
country. If Congress mandates such late to more money going to schools
programs through the Child Nutrition because they spark increased partici- Visit FarmToSchool.org for pro-
Act, these programs could flourish in pation in school lunch programs and gram details. Help ensure farm to
every part of the country. This would schools are paid on the number of school is a pivotal provision in the reau-
help children to start naturally build- lunches served. Local farmers realize thorized Child Nutrition Act by calling
ing healthier eating habits and connect more income, which in turn strengthens members of Congress through the U.S.
them more closely with where their local economies and creates jobs. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
food comes from. Ecotrust, a nonprofit based in Port-
Too many of today’s kids are land, Oregon, has published an analy- Aimee Witteman is the executive
shocked to see that the milk they sis of the impact of investing school director of the National Sustainable Ag-
drink from cartons came from an food dollars in the local food economy. riculture Coalition. Support the mission
animal. One young girl visiting a farm The study found that for every food dol- at SustainableAgriculture.net.
August 2009 23
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