Local schools buying locally produced food

It's not news that huge agrobusiness and largely crappy processed foods dominate our dinner plates and lunch bags. But developments in Vermont are hoping to make a small dent into that trend.

A Vermont Public Radio commentator reports:

In 2002-2003, schools in Vermont spent thirteen million dollars on food, yet less than five percent went for direct purchase of produce from local farms. Since then, programs to connect local farms to school cafeterias and classrooms to farms have begun to increase. Recent efforts have demonstrated that when children and food service personnel have relationships with local farmers and producers they are more likely to try new foods and use fresh and less-processed foods.

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The main thrust of the programs is to provide fresh, local food to school kitchens. In Alburgh, Jennifer Mitchell, the school's kitchen manager, set up taste tests as part of FEED [the Food-to-Education-EveryDay program]. She tried different grains - brown rice, millet, and barley - and fresh local vegetables, including green and purple cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower; fresh fruits; and various kinds of beans. Ever hear of millet and vegetable salad? In Orange, the students created a daily healthy snack menu - from banana nut muffins to smoothies - and apples with peanut butter to veggie sticks with ranch dip.

The Starksboro school built gardens and planted garlic in the fall. The garlic was used the following September in the cafeteria, with more vegetables planted in the spring.

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Bringing locally grown foods into the schools benefits the local economy. Farmers who work with the schools are able to extend the growing season, have outlets for their surplus and a way to sell produce that has surface blemishes but is perfectly nutritious. Healthy nutrition needs to start early, so that by the time the young ones reach their teens they will be making wise food choices.

The overwhelming majority of upstate and northern New York is farm country. Wouldn't it be nice if local schools implemented a similar program?