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School lunch programs gone “local”
January 4th, 2010 by Mike Knutson
While grocery shopping for Christmas, I picked up some delicious looking strawberries. It’s difficult to grow fresh strawberries during South Dakota’s harsh winter, and I suspected these strawberries had been grown on a hydroponic farm in some distant land. Unfortunately, their flavor fell far short of my already low expectations, and I suspect their nutritional value wasn’t far behind.
With this disappointment fresh in my mind, I caught a tweet from Deb Brown at DebWorks. She shared an interesting article describing how the Independence (IA) School District has embraced the local foods movement in an effort to both improve the nutritional value of their school lunches and to education young people about healthy living. (Source: “School lunch goes local,” Iowa Farmer Today, 12-23-09)
The school district is a part of the Iowa Farm to School Initiative. They purchase locally grown produce, and prepare it at their kitchen. In an effort to help young people understand what healthy eating is all about and where their food comes from, the school has also developed an educational component.
Not only am I impressed with the efforts because it should lead to healthier eating for young people, but also because it stimulates the local economy. Granted it must take a little extra effort to prepare the fruits and vegetables, but I’m sure the school’s kitchen workers appreciate the extra hours and accompanying wages.
There’s been a growing movement lately to discredit local foods initiatives. The theory goes that mass producing foods and shipping them across the country leads to greater economic efficiencies. But as a recent Business Week article titled “Entrepreneurs Keep the Local Food Movement Hot” reports, local foods initiatives play a more critical role in economic development than most people realize.
After conducting a quick internet search for the Farm to School Initiative, I’ve concluded there’s not much happening in South Dakota’s schools. If true, that’s disappointing.
Good nutrition and a little economic development. That’s something that could benefit all of our rural communities.
Photo credit: back_garage - Flickr
Tags: Buy Local, education, entrepreneurship, local foods
Posted in Economic Development, Rural, education | Comments (
5 )
January 4th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I came across another reason why using locally-grown foods could be a better idea. Kevin Lawton wrote that GMO food production could crater this year. Local growers, especially those who avoid gene-modified seeds, could find their market share increasing, if Mr. Lawton is right.
See http://www.trendcaller.com/2010/01/50-trends-for-2010-and-beyond.html for Mr. Lawton’s forecast.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Mike
I have not had enough time to comment on your blog or on facebook but have been following them and believe you have brought up many subjects that need further exploration. Local foods, rural communities developing their own blogs, and getting the young and old in the community working together. Keep it up, someday, I will get in my two cents worth of opinion.
Loren Budahl
January 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
The Montana State residence hall Food Service is owned and operated by the university and not an outside company. They have started a “Montana Made” program to bring in more local foods to the students and catered events. According to their website, “MSU Food Services currently spends 12% of its food budget on products that are grown and/or processed in Montana - which means $460,000 per year goes towards Montana farmers, ranchers, processors and distributors.” And I must say, Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream made in Livingston, MT is some of the best ice cream I have ever eaten. Ever.
You can check out the MSU Montana Made program and get more information here: http://www.montana.edu/ufs/mtmade/index.php
January 6th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Morgan,
Hats off to Montana State! It leaves me wondering about other SD colleges like South Dakota State and Dakota State University. I know about SDSU ice cream, but I don’t know if they produce and consume other SD foods in their food service.
Sounds like we have a challenge in the mix. Can any SD beat that 12%? I wonder Morgan, do you know anyone who has a little influence at those colleges that we could issue the challenge to?
January 6th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I believe most public universities in SD get their food services through a company called Aramark, so I guess they are the ones to challenge!