Food for Thought: Getting "Farm to Fork" into California's Public Schools

California Groundbreakers

Eating local, sustainable and seasonal is something we hear a lot in the “Farm-to-Fork” capital city of Sacramento. Is that message making its its way to school lunchrooms here as well? Many school districts are trying to get local ingredients on the menu. And other organizations, from Bay Area startups to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, are helping them out with a big push to promote healthy eating and local agriculture. But three questions: How will school districts pay for it? How can parents, farmers and other food promoters help out? And will California kids eat it if it’s not fried or chocolate? Join us for a food-focused conversation about how schools, parents, the public and private sectors, and foodies in general can work together to bring the fresh high-end cuisine California is known for into the cafeteria. PANELISTS * Nick Anicich, Farm to School Program lead at the California Department of Food and Agriculture * Diana Flores, director of Nutrition Services, and the future Central Kitchen, at Sacramento City Unified School District * Todd McPherson, Urban Agriculture Academy coordinator at Luther Burbank High School * Kirsten Saenz Tobey, co-founder and chief impact officer of Revolution Foods * Amber Stott, founding executive director of the Food Literacy Center PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY * 0 to 6 minutes - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and why we're having this discussion * 6 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and share their favorite lunchtime meal * 12:30 min - How Sacramento City Unified School District is getting fresh, local food into its cafeterias * 21:15 min - How California's Department of Food and Ag is helping other school districts statewide to do the same * 24:20 min - How Oakland-based Revolution Foods is getting public school districts nationwide to serve its meals * 29:05 - Teaching kids about food literacy, and lessons learned about how to make them more food adventurous * 33:15 min - Teaching students about growing, gardening, food activism, and agriculture as a career * 37:40 min - Working with Federal rules and regulations about school meals * 51:45 min - Any new state legislation that passed to boost "Farm to School" programs? * 55:20 min - How would proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)affect school funding and meals for children? * 58:05 min - How can small school districts procure better foods and partner with farms to improve their meal offerings? * 1 hr, 7:50 min - Panelists share their recent Farm to School success stories (e.g., making pesto for fellow students, testifying in front of City Council, building a cooking school and commercial kitchen, partnering up with Stephen Curry) * 1 hr, 17:20 min - How can farmers and ranchers better connect with schools for offering climate change-focused food and ag education? * 1 hr, 17:20 min - The challenges of switching over school menus to healthier food that won't make students revolt * 1 hr, 24:05 min - What can individual Californians do to help public schools serve better, healthier, fresher food to their students? RESOURCES For info on panelists' organizations, and other organizations mentioned during the podcast, go to the event info on our website - www.californiagroundbreakers.org/events/2019/9/25/farm-to-fork-in-california-schools