What We Do: Mass. Farm to School Project

2. What We Do: Mass. Farm to School Project • Technical Assistance • “Matchmaking” services to farms, institutional food service and distributors • Promotion • Coordinate Mass. Harvest for Students Week & Harvest of the Month • Distribute promotional materials for farm and food service use. • Education & Advocacy • Annual research on the state of farm to institution sales. • Representation of MA in National Farm to School Network

3. Farm to School Status Report

4. National School Lunch Program • How it works • Cash reimbursements and donated food from Federal government (USDA ) • Meals must meet nutrition requirements • Authorized through Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act • Major changes in SY2011-2012 • Who’s in Charge? • Self-operating vs. management companies

5. The 3 Cs • Cafeteria • Community • Classroom

6. Local Farmers Food Service Directors Food Service Staff Distributors School nurses Agitators/Advocates/ Students School administrators (principals, superintendents) Teachers/professors Players in the Farm to School Food System Our job is to understand the players and look for an opening

7. Local Foods for Cafeteria System

8. Why Serve Local Foods? • Preserves Open Space & Diverse Farm Land • Farmers get more of the food $ • Lighter Carbon Footprint • On average our food travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate • Preserves Genetic Diversity • Local Farmers often grow many varieties for taste, flavor & longer season • Minimize food waste • Educate students & staff about where food comes from • Connect to other sustainability initiatives in the school – i.e. school gardens, compost programs etc. • Serve the freshest, healthy and flavorful foods • Support the local economy

9. Challenges & Opportunities For Farms Opportunities • Can provide stable, consistent customer. • Can purchase in high volume. • Demand greatest during farms’ non-peak time. Challenges • Must be able to communicate regularly with schools and track orders • Prefer a diverse product line or ability to buy products from other farms. • Price • Delivery requirements - # of drop-offs, location, minimum orders • For Schools • Opportunities • Increase in participation • Less wastage • Good PR • Potential for curriculum connections • FFVP • Challenges • Ability of kitchen to process raw food • # of meals served per day • Ability of FSD to chose vendors • FSD and kitchen staff motivation • Consumer buy-in • Food Service Management Companies

10. Farm to Cafeteria In Your Community • What’s Currently Happening? • Talk to your District Food Service Director • Currently buying from Farm? Distributor? • Challenges they see? • Opportunities? (salad bar, # meals/day, snacks, freezing) • Talk to your School Administration • Management Co. contracts • Support cafeteria buying local foods? • School Wellness Committee/Policy • School Gardens • What is being done with food grown? • What classes are using gardens? • Classroom connections – taste testing &more

11. Farm to Cafeteria In Your Community • What’s Currently Happening? • Farms – where to look? • In your area • At farmers markets • Delivering to restaurants, supermarkets, colleges, school nearby • Farm Lists • www.mass.gov/massgrown • www.farmfresh.org • Farms – who may fit? • Size of operation & crops they produce • Delivery capacity • Price point

12. Farm to Cafeteria In Your Community • Colleges • Hospitals • Preschools • Retirement Communities • Other ideas?

13. More Information • Mass Farm to School: www.massfarmtoschool.org • Natl. Farm to School: www.farmtoschool.org • Farm to Inst. New England: www.farmtoinstitution.org Contact Information Lisa Damon lisa@massfarmtoschool.org 413-253-3844