200 likes | 339 Views
Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Healthy Kids Conference 11-5-03 Jim Mansfield, Director Division of Horticulture & Aquaculture . KY Farm-to-School Program.
E N D
Kentucky Department of Agriculture Healthy Kids Conference 11-5-03Jim Mansfield, Director Division of Horticulture & Aquaculture
KY Farm-to-School Program To provide high quality fresh local food to KY public institutions at a fair price while at the same time providing sales and income opportunities for KY farms. MISSION STATEMENT
1665 Schools in KY (2001) Approximately 82,275,000 meals served annually Creates marketing opportunities for produce, dairy products and meat from KY family farms Farm Sales Potential
Kentucky’s Unique Situation • 89,000 Farms, mostly small • 3.1 Billion Dollars in Agriculture Sales (2002) • Approx. 33% Crop & 66% Livestock • Tobacco up to 1 Billion in Sales (1998) • 50% Cut in Quota • Tobacco: • High Value per Acre • Not Perishable • Price and Sales are Guaranteed
Produce Marketing Four key points needed to establish a viable wholesale market • Quality • Volume • Service • Price
Areas serviced by Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable marketing cooperatives • Central Kentucky Growers’ Association • 2190 Cincinnati Pike • Georgetown, KY 40324 • 502-863-0002 • Green River Produce Marketing Association • PO Box 71 • Horse Cave, KY 42749 • 270-786-4323 • West Kentucky Growers Co-op • 806 KY 279 North • Owensboro, KY 42301 • 270-764-2667 • Cumberland Farm Products • 469 East Highway 90 By-pass • Monticello, KY 42633 • 606-348-8405
Farm to School - History • Idea took root in May 2000 • A joint interest and effort by USDA, KDA, UK Extension and KY Dept. of Education • Pilot program in 2000 - regions 4 & 8 • Sales of cabbage, broccoli and fall decorative items (mini pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn)
Farm to School - History • 2001& 2002 state-wide program • 98 Schools participated • KDA Marketing coordinated crop offerings and delivery schedules • KDA Food Distribution coordinated distribution and school produce orders • DOD coordinated bid process, quality control and payments to growers
Farm-to-School Menu 2002 • Seedless Watermelons • Yukon Gold Potatoes • Fall Décor Kit • Red Cabbage • Green Cabbage • Broccoli
Advantages of Kentucky FTS • Allows schools an opportunity to support local agriculture and purchase fresh products • Offers a “teachable moment” about food • Provides an additional market for KY farms • State-wide distribution of products • Prices are competitive with national markets • Quality control • Multiple products supplied by multiple growers
Challenges • Most KY produce = June, July & August • 2000 thru 2002 MO was cumbersome • Schools have limited produce preparation abilities • Tracking KY products - is this working and are we getting what we asked for? • New crops and or new time frames are needed • Program loyalty- patience please!
The Future • Work mainly through the DOD vendors • Encourage early and late KY produce crops • Develop fresh-cut and processing opportunities • Look for ways to link individual farms with local schools
Daviess County Schools Ms. Lisa Sims Food Service Director
Daviess County Schoolsutilize Farm to School Program • Support local farmers • Fresh, quality products • Efficient way to use Commodity Dollars
Farm to School Purchases for 2002-2003 • Seedless Watermelons –290 melons, $2297 • Green Cabbage- 40/25lb, $233 • Broccoli – 60 bushels, $856 • Fall Décor Kit- 30 kits, $300 • Red Cabbage • Yukon Gold Potatoes
DCPS Farm to School Products for 2003-2004 • Request KY Grown on Fax Cover Sheets when requesting produce orders from the Department of Defense. • This year Watermelons have been ordered
DOD Produce • Encourages schools to offer more fresh fruit and vegetable choices • Cuts out the middle man of receiving fresh items through commodity program
More Salad! • For healthier choices • To help meet nutrient requirements • Justify Salad Bars for teachers