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Local Farms-Healthy Kids
Governor Gregoire signed the bill into law on March 27, 2008!
The Local Farms-Healthy Kids Act is a huge step forward in food policy for Washington State! It provides for a range of programs to increase consumption of Washington-grown food, improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for communities who need it most, and expand markets for farmers around the state.
With a series of changes to existing purchasing laws and creation of new programs, the Local Farms – Healthy Kids Act is one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching efforts in the country to promote state-level food policy.
The Act establishes a state Farm to School Program within the Washington State Department of Agriculture and a Washington Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables grant program for schools. It also sets up a Farm to Food Bill pilot program and provides funding for better access to farmers markets for those receiving WIC and senior citizen benefits.
The Local Farms-Healthy Kids legislation achieved bi-partisan support in land-slide votes. Early momentum was created for the proposal when it was selected as one of the environmental community’s Priorities for a Healthy Washington for 2008. The initiative was supported by a broad and diverse coalition representing the
environmental, farming, school and public health communities. Click here for a complete listing of official supporters.
What the legislation does:
- Eases state and school procurement restrictions to better enable school districts and state entities to choose local.
- Eliminates low-cost bidding requirements for school purchases of Washington-grown food and allows schools to adopt price preferences for local food,
- Requires development of food procurement procedures for state entities to encourage and facilitate purchasing of Washington grown food to the maximum extent practicable, and
- Requires all state food contracts to include a plan to maximize the availability of Washington grown food purchased through the contract.
- Establishes a Farm to School Program that will facilitate the purchasing of Washington–grown farm products by schools.
- Program includes 2 ½ FTEs in the Dept. of Agriculture that will coordinate with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Department of Health,
- Program will work with schools and farmers to promote school purchasing, assist farmers in marketing to schools, and provide cirricula on the nutritional and environmental benefits of consuming locally grown food.
- Creates the Washington Grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program. Provides $600,000 per year in grant funds to elementary schools with high numbers of low-income students to make available a locally–grown fruit and vegetable snack program.
- Promotes school gardens. Authorizes schools to grow food for consumption in their regular snack and meal programs, and requires school garden programs to include education about organic and conventional growing methods.
- Establishes a Farmers Market Technology Program. Provides $50,000 for the purchase of wireless technology to allow farmers markets to accept both food stamps and credit cards.
- Establishes three Farm to food Bank pilot programs. Allocates $350,000 to establish three pilots allowing food banks to contract with farmers for a steady supply of fresh-locally grown food.
- Expands and increases funding for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Requires the Dept. of Health to establish rules for farm stores to participate in the program, and provides an additional $200,000 in coupons to allow low income seniors and women with infant children to shop at farmers markets.
Funding: $1,490,000 was appropriated to implement the legislation.
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Link to Media Coverage
What Folks Are Saying About the Bill:
“I’m so pleased that Washington State has invested in this critical effort to help farmers like us stay in business, protect and preserve farmland, and provide our children with nutritious locally grown produce.”
Gretchen Hoyt, Alm Hill Gardens, Everson, WA
"The passage of this legislation not only provides an opportunity for our children to eat more healthy foods, but also allows us to live in greater harmony with our surroundings as we strive to become more aware of our connection to, and responsibility for, the creation that surrounds us.”
Sister Sharon Park, OP, Executive Director, Washington State Catholic Conference
“Local produce in schools will help develop good eating habits at a young age, and will help eliminate the waste and energy required to ship food long distances. It will also help to educate students and families about the plight of farmers in Washington, and the resulting environmental impact of how and where food is grown.”
Josie Olney, 16 Seattle, and Tamlyn Zawalich, 16 Shoreline
“Investing this year in Local Farms-Healthy Kids will pay big dividends in the future. We all share great hopes forthe future. A future where our local food systems help connect people together is a good place to start—a universal win for our children’s health, our economy and our environment.”
Michael Bennett, President, Pacific Pre-Pak, Inc, Everett, WA
“As the coordinator for the Seattle Food Committee (a coalition of Seattle-area food banks), I know how important fresh produce is, particularly for children, seniors and people with special health needs. This legislation is a hopeful indication that we can tap the tremendous resource of our local farms to feed people who would otherwise go hungry.”
Trish Twomey, Food Resources Manager-- Solid Ground
“The power of this idea has been amazing. This package creates opportunities for farmers, school kids, and in particular people with lower incomes by getting more locally grown food into school snacks and lunches.”
Representative Eric Pettigrew, one of the most important legislative leaders on this bill.
Food Systems
Farm to School Connections
Food & Fitness
Nutrition Education |
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