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	By CHERE SIMMONS SARASOTA, FL — John Matthews, Local Food System Coordinator for Sarasota County, talks of going on a 150-mile diet. Haven’t heard of that one? He will only eat foods produced within a 150-mile radius of his home. Sounds challenging...yet very possible. Our state has an abundant source of year-round fruits and vegetables. Not to mention livestock and seafood. The motivation for this challenge is his involvement with the Farm To School program that he and Dr. Robert Kluson, UF/IFAS Extension Agent, helped institute last year in Sarasota and neighboring Manatee and Charlotte Counties. With great enthusiasm they explain how the system is working in 22 states and about 400 school districts around the country. Better nutrition The concept is one that satisfies multiple goals: The first being the nutritional wellness of school-age children. There are 74,000 students fed daily in the above three counties, nearly 40% of them receive reduced or free meals. For many, this may be the single most nutritious meal of the day. There is also the rising concern over childhood obesity and the need to teach children to make healthier choices. Introducing local fresh fruits and vegetables into school lunches and breakfast is a good start. Local food is typically the freshest, and there is solid science that food affects behavior, memory, attention and cognitive skills. New income opportunities for farmers Second, the clock is ticking on farmland throughout Florida. Most farmers want to stay in the industry but pressure from development and rising production costs negate their desires. The Farm To School program brings new marketing possibilities to local farmers. School districts each have professional Food Service Directors who purchase food for thousands of meals every year. It’s a market that, for most farmers, has never been explored. It is especially attractive to small-scale, independent, or specialty crop farmers looking for a niche consumer. Bringing the farm back to the community Third, reintroducing the farmer to the community. Today’s children are at least three generations removed from the family farm so it’s easy to see why they are unfamiliar with any aspect of it. In many areas Farm To School has taken the program from the cafeteria to the barn with field trips and visits to the classroom by farmers. “You know the person cutting your hair or doing your nails,” says Matthews. “But do you know who is growing your food? Farming is a profession and we want to bring more credence to it.” According to Kluson, a study in 2002 showed residents in his area spent $800 million feeding themselves. This includes supermarket and restaurant sales. However, only $20 million was reported in farm sales. Purchasing directly from local farmers generates more money in the local economy and strengthens community ties. The collard green test The pilot program for the Sarasota region was in the spring of 2006. Food director Beverly Girard had a choice between green beans, sweet potato sticks and collard greens. She chose collards which were served with mixed reactions among students. The greens were chosen to help kids understand diversity, not only in culture but also in the foods of each culture. Collards are definitely a southern delicacy. “Studies show that a new food must be introduced 10 to 15 times before a child feels confident enough to choose it on his own,” says Dr. Kluson. “We’ve actually witnessed children who couldn’t identify a whole, cooked potato.” Many of today’s children believe a French fry is a vegetable. The collards used in the pilot came from the New North Florida Cooperative Association (NNFC) which is the pioneer of Farm To School in Florida. It has been enjoying success with its 100 member co-op since 1997. The NNFC now sells to 15 school districts in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Misissippi. They work closely with Florida A&M University who provides assistance to small farmers through their outreach programs. Not a fad “This is not a fad. It’s permanent,” says Matthews. “It is so huge, and I see so many possibilities, that I have to narrow my focus to stay on course. We’re taking baby steps right now. “I have hope for a regional farmers cooperative that can model itself after the North Florida co-op. We can feed ourselves, and the county can be more sustainable.” The pair hopes to see more neighboring counties, like Lee and Collier, come on board through their respective Extension agencies and strengthen the idea for a regional co-op. “I imagine the future to include Farm To Hospital, Farm To Nursing Home, and so on,” states Dr. Kluson. “Everything is going in the direction we hoped, but we need more community partners.” School gardens Another hope for relinking children to the land is the school garden. “School gardens are the proactive part of the scheme,” says Dr. Kluson. “There are three gardens currently functioning in Sarasota County, one each in an elementary, middle and high school.” “There is a desperate need for volunteers,” adds Kluson. “With funding cuts, the success of a garden falls on the community. Parents, civic groups, retirees, anyone who is willing to help can contact us about starting a project at a school near them.” Community partnering With strong support from the local Florida Farm Bureau, school food services, Florida West Coast RC&D, regional farmers, UF/IFAS, and All Faiths Food Bank, the program is on the right track, but it still needs community involvement. The 2007 Farm Bill has provisions for the program giving it much needed funds, and contacting Congress to show support for the new Bill will give it a stronger voice. Express support to local school boards, county commissioners, teachers, Extension offices, farmers, etc. “We are very interested in reaching groups who want to participate,” says Kluson. “We are available to speak to organizations or just answer questions about the program.” To contact Matthews or Kluson call the UF/IFAS Sarasota Extension office at 941-861-5000. The office is located at 6700 Clark Road, Twin Lakes Park, Sarasota, FL 34241. Website is http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu There are many valuable websites for more information on the program. Visit www.farmtoschool.org, www.foodsecurity.org, and www.ecoliteracy.org (an excellent site for information on starting school gardens). However, the most informative for producers and buyers is www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farmtoschool.html#benefits. This site gives benefits and constraints, contract suggestions, delivery and payment ideas to both farmers and buyers.	John Matthews, Local Food System Coordinator, UF/IFAS, poses with Dr. Robert Kluson, Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Agent II, Sarasota County UF/IFAS. Chere Simmons Photo

Farm To School Program Provides Nutrition For Students

Revenue For Farmers

By CHERE SIMMONS

SARASOTA, FL — John Matthews, Local Food System Coordinator for Sarasota County, talks of going on a 150-mile diet. Haven’t heard of that one? He will only eat foods produced within a 150-mile radius of his home. Sounds challenging...yet very possible.
Our state has an abundant source of year-round fruits and vegetables. Not to mention livestock and seafood.
The motivation for this challenge is his involvement with the Farm To School program that he and Dr. Robert Kluson, UF/IFAS Extension Agent, helped institute last year in Sarasota and neighboring Manatee and Charlotte Counties.
With great enthusiasm they explain how the system is working in 22 states and about 400 school districts around the country.

Better nutrition
The concept is one that satisfies multiple goals: The first being the nutritional wellness of school-age children. There are 74,000 students fed daily in the above three counties, nearly 40% of them receive reduced or free meals. For many, this may be the single most nutritious meal of the day. There is also the rising concern over childhood obesity and the need to teach children to make healthier choices. Introducing local fresh fruits and vegetables into school lunches and breakfast is a good start. Local food is typically the freshest, and there is solid science that food affects behavior, memory, attention and cognitive skills.
New income opportunities for farmers
Second, the clock is ticking on farmland throughout Florida. Most farmers want to stay in the industry but pressure from development and rising production costs negate their desires. The Farm To School program brings new marketing possibilities to local farmers. School districts each have professional Food Service Directors who purchase food for thousands of meals every year. It’s a market that, for most farmers, has never been explored. It is especially attractive to small-scale, independent, or specialty crop farmers looking for a niche consumer.

Bringing the farm back to the community
Third, reintroducing the farmer to the community. Today’s children are at least three generations removed from the family farm so it’s easy to see why they are unfamiliar with any aspect of it. In many areas Farm To School has taken the program from the cafeteria to the barn with field trips and visits to the classroom by farmers.
“You know the person cutting your hair or doing your nails,” says Matthews. “But do you know who is growing your food? Farming is a profession and we want to bring more credence to it.”
According to Kluson, a study in 2002 showed residents in his area spent $800 million feeding themselves. This includes supermarket and restaurant sales. However, only $20 million was reported in farm sales. Purchasing directly from local farmers generates more money in the local economy and strengthens community ties.

The collard green test
The pilot program for the Sarasota region was in the spring of 2006. Food director Beverly Girard had a choice between green beans, sweet potato sticks and collard greens. She chose collards which were served with mixed reactions among students. The greens were chosen to help kids understand diversity, not only in culture but also in the foods of each culture. Collards are definitely a southern delicacy.
“Studies show that a new food must be introduced 10 to 15 times before a child feels confident enough to choose it on his own,” says Dr. Kluson. “We’ve actually witnessed children who couldn’t identify a whole, cooked potato.”
Many of today’s children believe a French fry is a vegetable.
The collards used in the pilot came from the New North Florida Cooperative Association (NNFC) which is the pioneer of Farm To School in Florida. It has been enjoying success with its 100 member co-op since 1997. The NNFC now sells to 15 school districts in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Misissippi. They work closely with Florida A&M University who provides assistance to small farmers through their outreach programs.

Not a fad
“This is not a fad. It’s permanent,” says Matthews. “It is so huge, and I see so many possibilities, that I have to narrow my focus to stay on course. We’re taking baby steps right now.
“I have hope for a regional farmers cooperative that can model itself after the North Florida co-op. We can feed ourselves, and the county can be more sustainable.”
The pair hopes to see more neighboring counties, like Lee and Collier, come on board through their respective Extension agencies and strengthen the idea for a regional co-op.
“I imagine the future to include Farm To Hospital, Farm To Nursing Home, and so on,” states Dr. Kluson. “Everything is going in the direction we hoped, but we need more community partners.”

School gardens
Another hope for relinking children to the land is the school garden.
“School gardens are the proactive part of the scheme,” says Dr. Kluson. “There are three gardens currently functioning in Sarasota County, one each in an elementary, middle and high school.”
“There is a desperate need for volunteers,” adds Kluson. “With funding cuts, the success of a garden falls on the community. Parents, civic groups, retirees, anyone who is willing to help can contact us about starting a project at a school near them.”

Community partnering
With strong support from the local Florida Farm Bureau, school food services, Florida West Coast RC&D, regional farmers, UF/IFAS, and All Faiths Food Bank, the program is on the right track, but it still needs community involvement. The 2007 Farm Bill has provisions for the program giving it much needed funds, and contacting Congress to show support for the new Bill will give it a stronger voice.
Express support to local school boards, county commissioners, teachers, Extension offices, farmers, etc.
“We are very interested in reaching groups who want to participate,” says Kluson. “We are available to speak to organizations or just answer questions about the program.”

To contact Matthews or Kluson call the UF/IFAS Sarasota Extension office at 941-861-5000. The office is located at 6700 Clark Road, Twin Lakes Park, Sarasota, FL 34241. Website is http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu
There are many valuable websites for more information on the program. Visit www.farmtoschool.org, www.foodsecurity.org, and www.ecoliteracy.org (an excellent site for information on starting school gardens). However, the most informative for producers and buyers is www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farmtoschool.html#benefits. This site gives benefits and constraints, contract suggestions, delivery and payment ideas to both farmers and buyers.

John Matthews, Local Food System Coordinator, UF/IFAS, poses with Dr. Robert Kluson, Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Agent II, Sarasota County UF/IFAS.

Chere Simmons Photo