January 2006
Survey eyes farm-to-school programs
The University of California researchers who took photos of student lunches showing that children prefer fresh fruits and vegetables from salad bar programs will be participating in a new $195,000 W.K. Kellogg grant to gather data about the state of farm-to-school programs in the western United States.
Gail Feenstra, food systems analyst at the statewide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), and Jeri Ohmart, SAREP program assistant, will collaborate with researchers at Occidental College in Los Angeles to do a survey of farm-to-school programs in selected California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming school districts. This is part of a national effort to gather data on the needs of farm-to-school programs.
In the last five years, farm-to-school salad bar programs have taken root at many school districts across the country, Feenstra said.
"We are getting input from food service workers, Cooperative Extension personnel and others about future farm-to-school program needs," said Feenstra. "The data we gather for our survey will help food service directors and farm-to-school program leaders network within their regions and share information about program operations to help make decisions about whether to start a program or to improve an existing one."
Feenstra said the results would help food service staff find the local fresh fruits and vegetables that are integral to the lunch programs.
"It will also help support small- and mid-sized farmers by connecting them with food service buyers," she said.
"We also expect the data will be used by state and national policymakers to understand cost/benefit ratios as they decide on policies that could support farm-to-school programs," Feenstra added.
As part of the grant, Feenstra and Ohmart are organizing an April meeting in Davis to share information with people interested in farm-to-school programs, including representatives of nonprofit organizations, food service directors and public agencies.
Media Contacts:
Gail Feenstra, (530) 752-8408, gwfeenstra@ucdavis.edu
Jeri Ohmart, (530) 752-5987, jlohmart@ucdavis.edu
