Farm to Institution: From Policy to Programs Holly Freishtat, MS, CN Sustainable Food Specialist, Cultivate Health, LLC Food & Society Policy Fellow September 19, 2008
Overview Community Food System Federal & State Policies Farm Bill Local Farms, Healthy Kids Farm to Institution (schools & hospitals) Challenges and Solutions
A Community Food System: Redefining Health Martin Heller, C.S Mott Group Michigan State University
Food System Components Growing Food Distributing Processing Retailing Preparing Eating
Community Food System Outcomes Healthy Individuals Environmental Stewardship Farmland Preservation Economic Development Farm Viability Community & Social Vitality
Farm Bill: Local Food Initiatives
Farm Bill: Nutrition Title Geographical Preference Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Farmers Market Promotion Program Community Food Projects
Geographical Preference (Section 4302) Allow K-12 schools receiving federal funds for school lunch the flexibility to specify a geographical preference for procurement of unprocessed agricultural products Regulatory- no cost associated Issue Interpretation of unprocessed Dried products (season extenders)
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program (Section 4304) Low income schools Provide fresh fruit & vegetables snacks daily $500 Million mandatory funding (5 yrs) Can preference local products
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Section 4231 and 4406 (c) $ 20.6 million per year (mandatory) Produce vouchers to low income seniors for Farmers Markets, road stands, CSA $10-$100 annually per recipient (vary by state)
Farmers Market Promotion Program Section 10106 $ 33 Million mandatory funding (5 years) Grants up to $75,000 10% of annual funds for food stamps at markets Promote farmers markets & direct marketing Market development, EBT, etc.
Community Food Projects Section 4406 A7 Grants for developing solutions for food security linking farms & hunger $5 Million over 10 yrs Mandatory Funding For nonprofits only Previously funding level Farms to Foodbank
Farm Bill: Rural Development Title Value-added Agricultural Development Program Grants (section 6202) Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center (section 4202-2) Financing for Local Food Enterprises (section 6015) Vincent, Growing Washington
Washington State Policies: Local Farms, Healthy Kids
Benefits Healthy Kids Support Farmers Preserve Farmland Minimize Waste
Objective Goals Farm to School Program Increase purchase of WA grown foods by WA schools to improve student nutrition and benefit farmers Work with schools and farms to promote purchasing Assist farmer in marketing to schools Provide curricula on locally grown food
School Procurement Regulations Eliminates low-cost bid requirements for WA products Allows schools to adopt price preference for local food Requires state food contracts to develop procurement plan to encourage local foods
WA Fruit & Vegetable Program 25 low-income schools Serving approx. 10,000 students Fresh & dried fruits & veg. Issues for schools Training on seasonality, farms, & food system education
Farmers Market 1. Farmers Market Technology Program 2. Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Promotes School Gardens Permits schools to grow food for school snacks & meals Requires education about organic & conventional growing methods Puget Sound School Gardens Collective Food $ense CHANGE Garden Sites
Farms to Foodbank Develop strategies for foodbanks to buy from farms $350,000 for 3 pilots Hired coordinator
Farm to Healthcare
Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge Ad Hoc Food Policy: 1. Nutritional Quality of food 2. Sustainable Food Procurement 3. Support Local Farms & Sustainable Agriculture 4. Reduce Waste through food composting
HCWH Pledge Report Intervention % # Purchasing local and/or third party certified produce 72% 76 80-100% of purchased fluid milk is rbgh free) 81% 85 Purchasing meat without hormones or antibiotics 44% 46 Purchasing poultry without antibiotics and arsenic 42% 44 Purchasing sustainably harvested seafood 39% 41 Increased fruit and vegetable offerings 100% 105 Decreased availability of processed foods 77% 81 Partially transitioned to bio-based food service ware 50% 53 Farmers' market or farm stand on-site 25% 26 Host a CSA program 25% 26 Composting food waste 60% 63
WA Hospital Pledge Signers Seattle Children s Hospital Overlake Hospital Medical Center Northwest Hospital and Medical Center University of Washington Medical Center MultiCare Health System Good Samaritan Hospital, Tacoma General Hospital, Mary Bridge Children s and Health Center Allenmore Hospital
Children s Hospital Signed Healthy Food Pledge Sustainable Catering Policies Composting Farm Stand Co-sponsored the Healthy Food in Healthcare Roundtable
Northwest Hospital & Medical Center Signed Pledge this spring Sustainable Catering (Herban Feast) Composting Food and Biobased Service Ware CSA program and farm stand
Overlake Hospital Medical Center, WA Purchase Sustainable Seafood Patient tray s have organic produce Exclusively use whole grain breads in Cafe Food Composting Recycling Christopher Linaman Executive Chef
Challenges & Solutions
Challenges: Farmer Infrastructure Distribution Processing Facilities Storage Production Size of farmer Variety of products- seasonality Markets Wholesale vs. Direct Marketing Price
Challenges: Institutions Strict food budgets Buys pre-cut and packaged produce Prime-vendor contracts Rebate incentive (hospitals) Accustomed to year round ordering Food Safety- liability insurance Education about local sourcing Development of seasonal menus Training on food preparation
Solutions: Programs & Policies Farm to School Program- WSDA Puget Sound Regional Food System Project (NABC & CHC) Food Hub (Ecotrust) Puget Sound Fresh Good Food Policy Coalition King County Policy Council Many, many more..
Conclusion: Linking Agriculture to Health WA Food & Farming Policies Institutional Market Collectively hospitals & schools have the economic engine that can create and promote a regional food system Farming Community Major Ag. State, year-round crops
Resources Local Farms, Healthy Kids Legislation (HB 2798) Farm Bill 2008: Side by Side Puget Sound Regional Food System Project Menu of Change: 2008 Survey of Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge Hospitals Sustainable Food Policy Glynwood: Guide to Serving Local Food National Farm to School Network Note: To view additional resources, click on the underlined words in presentation