Farm to school in N.C.

While the USDA fruit and vegetable program has attracted the most interest, this story refers to a three-year old state program in North Carolina that delivers farm produce to schools. It sounds like a winner, too.

From the story in The Fayetteville Observer:

North Carolina schools have found another way to fight childhood obesity — fresh produce.
Forty of the state’s 115 school systems take part in the North Carolina Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Farm to School Program, according to state statistics.
The program allows farmers from North Carolina and other states to ship produce to school cafeterias within days of harvesting.
Since 2002, the number of school systems participating in the program has grown 42 percent, from 28 to 40. Orders are growing, too.
For the third straight year, North Carolina schools have set a record for strawberry buying. In 2006, schools ordered 12,450 flats. Orders increased by nearly 8 percent this year, with 13,123 flats ordered, bringing in more than $168,000 to area farmers.
Clinton City Schools was among 69 school systems to order strawberries this year. The system orders its fruit from Cottles Strawberry Farm in Faison, said Jeff Swartz, the system’s child nutrition director. Berries picked in the morning are in bowls in the cafeteria before the first lunch bell rings.
“We are giving a lot more fresh produce than we have in the past,” Swartz said. “We have spent a lot of time in the past few years encouraging kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.”
This year, the system increased its strawberry purchases by about 15 flats a week. In the fall, it will order squash, watermelon and cantaloupe.
“There are a lot of farmers here we are able to purchase from directly,” Swartz said.


TK: Buying local is a hot trend, and all the hotter when it can be combined with providing fruits and vegetables to school children. The minimal transportation time for shipments must be a very appealing part of the program for growers and school foodservice officials.