Locally Grown Food in School Lunch Programs
by John Laumer, Philadelphia 
on 07.13.05
Both the farmers and kids seem to like this idea. According to the Madison WI program's website even the USDA is being supportive and, "By helping school districts buy food from local growers, such programs can substantially increase the nutritional value of children's lunches and teach eating habits dependent on less heavily processed foods. At the same time, such a program helps provide a reliable market for local small and mid-sized farmers".
Earthwatch Radio recently reported that "...More than 400 innovative programs bring locally grown food into school lunch rooms across the United States. Doug Wubben coordinates one of them, the Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch Project in Madison". Mr. Wubben is quoted as saying that: "One meal that we had last November involved a vegetable chicken fajita wrap, a muffin that was made with sweet potatoes, an apple from a local orchard, and the kids' milk. And that went to over 7,000 students for one meal, and that resulted in 2,000 dollars worth of sales of produce to local farmers, and that's just one meal".
This TreeHugger would have promised to eat every bean and pea on his plate if (as a kid) school lunches served corn on the cob for the first three weeks of school.
After that acorn squash with butter and maple syrup for month, etc.
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I did a short volunteering gig at one of the schools serving the WHL and the kids said they LOVE the program. They recited their favorite menu items and told me all about the concept behind eating locally in the lunchroom. Now THAT's a success!
I think this is a great idea! I always found it funny how health class always teaches kids about nutrition and then serve donuts, chips, candy, and soda for lunch. I'm a high school student so I just bring my own lunch every day to avoid their food. I know a ton of people who would buy lunch more often if there were better healthier options.
Teachers would whole heartly agree with the school lunches could be better! So how do we change this? How do we get kids to start to think about where their food comes from?
Recently we were introduced to a great new book series. My daughter, wife and I just loved called Gaia Girls. The first book Gaia Girls - Enter the Earth focuses on a small family organic farm that is being threatened by an industrial HOG farm operation.
This book is a great way to spark a conversation about where our food comes? please check out the site.
www.gaiagirls.com or www.gaiagirls.com/shop
Guy-uh Girls
The book is printed on 100% recycled paper and as a broad audience. It's not just for kids! Check it out and I hope more articles and books like this come out to get America back to the agricultural culture of the past. It used to be an honest good living to be a small family farmer. I pray that will return to this great nation again.
Big is NOT better as we can see from this article and this new book series.
StanB
Check out Gaia Girls in the news
Eco Talk Radio Interview
http://www.ecotalkblog.com/
Sustainable Table Blog Post on Gaia Girls
http://www.sustainabletable.org/blog/archives/2005/11/talking_otters_and_supernatura.html#comments
Gaia Girls: Enter the earth is fantastic!!! I'm retired teacher, know how important it is to instill good values early; easiest to do embedded in a great story. (Remember Star Wars and The Force??)
Please help this book get out there. you can buy from the website as I did: www.gaiagirls.com
I'm 62 and I could not put it down...not just for kids! And the illustrations are so beautiful!