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Media Coverage of the
Local Farms-Healthy Kids Act
Voices of Diversity Radio Show about Local Farms-Healthy Kids and community local food projects Hosted by Joaquin Uy, with guests Tricia Sexton, Eric Boutin and Clayton Burrows. KBCS Community Radio. Aired 06/04/2008.
Back in March, Governor Christine Gregoire signed SB 6483 or the Local Farms Healthy Kids Bill into law. The law makes it easier for food grown in Washington State farms to make it onto the lunch trays of Washington State students. It also attempts to help local farmers be sustainable as well as encouraging the growth of new small farmers. However, critics point out that the law does nothing to mandate that schools buy from local farms and nor does it have nearly enough money necessary to support schools in this endeavor. And with Washington State land as expensive as it is and food and gas prices soaring, does the Local Farms Healthy Kids Law have any teeth? Listen to the broadcast .
School food’s nearly home grown by Tad Sooter. Bainbridge Island Review. Published 03/26/2008.
A bill passed in the state Legislature’s recently adjourned session and expected to be signed by the governor, is designed to clear a path for farmers and school districts to get local produce into the lunchroom. The bill allows districts to favor Washington-grown products when awarding contracts. It also establishes a “farm to school program” and a grant program for purchasing Washington produce with $1.4 million allocated for kick starting pilot projects. Read the entire article.
A healthy option of locally grown by Editorial Board. The Seattle Times. Published 03/16/2008.
The "Local Farms — Healthy Kids Act" promotes all Washington-grown food — fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy. The legislation facilitates a farm-to-school program by eliminating bureaucratic impediments to buying local products, including lowest-cost bidding. Read the entire article.
Farm-to-schools legislation? It's a win for everyone by Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins and Bill Lee. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 03/14/2008.
Local schools will soon be able to buy more locally grown meat and produce for their lunch programs, thanks to a measure that finished its legislative journey this week and now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it. Read the entire article.
Bill links local farmers, schools by Andy Campbell. The Bellingham Herald. Published 03/13/2008.
A bill passed by state legislators in Olympia appropriates $1.5 million to better connect schools and other state-run institutions with local farms. The bill, which passed both houses with just a single vote against it, requests about $1 million of the total for the Farm to School and low-income snack programs. Other parts of the funding go toward a farm to food bank program and other nutritional programs. Read the entire article.
State Legislature Passes Local Farms Healthy Kids Bill by Tom Geiger. Press Release: Washington Environmental Council. Published 03/11/2008.
Today the state legislature passed the Local Farms – Healthy Kids bill (SSB 6483). Votes were very much bi-partisan and essentially unanimous in both the House and Senate. A key benefit of this legislation will make it easier for schools to buy locally grown food – providing markets for local farmers and nutritious, fresh local food for our children. As a package, this bill will become the most comprehensive local foods program in the nation. Read the entire article.
Wash. measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Capital Press. Published 03/01/2008.
The potatoes still need to be planted, as do the squash, but at Kirsop Farm, Genine Bradwin and Colin Barricklow are readying their land for the abundance of vegetables that will go to farmers markets, co-ops and local schools. A small portion of their bounty - mostly potatoes, squash and salad mix - goes to the Olympia School District, which uses fresh fruit and vegetables from about eight local farmers for lunches in its 18 schools. Read the entire article.
WA measure would encourage farm-to-school relationships by Rachel La Corte. Examiner. Published 03/01/2008.
The measure would help cut through some of the red tape that can prevent schools from getting local food - exempting schools from having to go through a competitive bidding process when they make large purchases of Washington grown food or food that was grown and processed in Washington state. Read the entire article.
States that have, or are considering, farm-to-school programs by Associated Press. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 03/01/2008.
Summary of states with farm to school policy. Read the entire article.
Local farmers may shake up school lunches by Aileen Charleston. The Federal Way Mirror. Published 02/09/2008.
In 2002, the Olympia School District introduced a pilot program at an elementary school that provided students with an organic salad bar containing locally grown fruits and vegetables during lunchtime. Buying from local farmers is a process that sounds easier than it is. Schools need to abide by strict state rules and regulations that force them to buy food from the lowest bidder, regardless of where the food items are grown. Read the entire article.
Lawmakers look to connect local food with schools by John Dodge. The Olympian. Published 01/28/2008.
State lawmakers considering a bill to make it easier for K-12 schools, state agencies and colleges to buy Washington-grown food should stop by the public cafeteria in the Pritchard Building on the Capitol Campus to see how the food connection can work. Read the entire article.
Farms, schools may cultivate relationships by Jennifer Henrichsen. Yakima Herald-Republic. Published 01/25/2008.
School cafeteria food still bites. Just ask Aiden Kerr, a fifth-grader from Seattle. The 10-year-old student told state House committee members Thursday that the amount of processed food in school cafeterias is "profoundly disgusting" and that it needs to change. Aiden was one of several to testify in favor of House Bill 2798, also known as the local farms/healthy kids act. If enacted, the bill would enhance student health while also boosting farm economies. Read the entire article.
Bill seeks to get more healthful food into schools by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/24/2008.
The polite word fifth-grader Aden Kahr uses to describe school lunches is "problematic." Aden joined farmers, parents, school nutritionists, social-service providers, food banks and environmental groups in urging the state to get more healthful Washington-grown food into cafeterias. Read the entire article.
Giving teeth to food policies by Stephanie Kosonen. GoSkagit. Published 01/22/2008.
Mo McBroom, a lobbyist and policy director for the Washington Environmental Council said the Local Farms, Healthy Kids bill aims to correct that and other roadblocks farmers could experience with getting their product into institutional kitchens. It would create a Farm-to-School program to foster relationships between farms and schools. The program would troubleshoot predicted supply issues and help to introduce curricula for students to learn about the environmental, economic and health benefits of consuming locally grown foods. The bill would also help eliminate red tape that currently prevents schools from being able to buy local food. Read the entire article.
Bill aims to put local foods on school lunch menus by Jennifer Langston. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 01/09/2008.
Legislation to be proposed in Olympia next week could catapult Washington to the forefront of national efforts to get more farm-fresh, locally grown food into lunches at schools and at other institutions. It borrows from piecemeal efforts in other states, but would go further. Read the entire article.
Get more local produce into the schools by Joan Crooks and Clayton Burrows. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Published 12/18/2007.
We believe Washington is a special place to live that is blessed with productive farmland, thriving communities and millions of people who all want a healthy future for their kids. We believe in helping local farms thrive by providing increased markets for Washington crops while providing nutritious food options for kids in our schools. "Local Farms -- Healthy Kids" is an idea that marries these goals of thriving farms and healthy kids into one legislative proposal. Read the entire article.
Thanks to the National Farm to School Network for the media coverage format and for many of these links. |
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Local Farms-
Healthy Kids Act
Food Systems
Farm to School Connections
Food & Fitness
Nutrition Education |
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