Virginia Farm-to-School Week: Virginia Farm to School Week: Growing from GrassrootsMatt Benson

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Virginia Department of Agric lt re Leanne D Bois

Special Thanks

• Virginia Department of Agriculture- Leanne DuBois

• Virginia Department of Education-g pCatherine Digilio-Grimes

• Virginia Farm to School Work Group• Virginia Farm-to-School Work Group

• Virginia Food System Council- 501c3

• National Farm-t0-School Network

• USDA- Jimmy Nguyen

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Th Ch ll• VA schools currently spend more

The OpportunityThe Challenge• Over 92% of farms gross VA schools currently spend more

than $6 million annually on fresh produce

• Over 92% of farms gross < $100,000

• VA FFVP funding will increase to $2.4 million for the 2010-2011 school year

• 1% of total Ag sales are direct marketing

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• If $0.25 a day per student lunch were devoted to purchasing

• Organic Ag: 12% => ~91%

p glocally grown Virginia farm products, more than $30.7 million would be reinvested

• Average age of farmer= 58 years old

annually in Virginia’s farm economy and rural communities• Over 400 years of

agricultural ‘tradition’

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Background & HistoryVirginia Farm to School authorized in 2007 legislation • Virginia Farm-to-School authorized in 2007 legislation forming task force

• Co-led by Department of Agriculture and Department of Education with multiple partners

• No dedicated funding for “ VA F-2-S”▫ Duties within roles▫ Cooperative Extension- ‘capacity builder’

Ed ti il t j t k d P• Education, pilot projects, work group, and Programs

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First steps… Work Group

• Convened in July 2009

• Representatives from public, private and non-profit / community-based organizations

• Multidisciplinary, focused on F-2-C

• Communication, awareness building, leadership

• 2009 Farm-to-School Week first activity

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2009 Week2nd week of November• 2nd week of November

• Every region of Virginia participatedy g g p p

• ~35 divisions participated

• Support from public, private and CBOs- local, regional and state

• Sourced over 36 different foods- dairy, fruits, veggies d tand meats…

▫ Special emphasis on Virginia apples

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2009 Week

• Participation varied…▫ 1 product, 1 meal, 1 day, several days, several

f d ll kfoods, all week

• Worked with community food enterprises• Worked with community food enterprises▫ Local Food Hub- Charlottesville▫ Fall Line Farms Online Market- RichmondFall Line Farms Online Market Richmond

• Included farmer visits to schools and classroom learning activities

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Legislative Success

• Found a key ally- House Delegate Ed Scott

• National policy review- Discovered Maryland home grown lunch bill

• Built a coalition of private, public and CBOs

• Joint Resolution (‘10)– HJ95 Officially establishing VA Farm-to-School Weekestablishing VA Farm to School Week▫ HB 398 (Lohr)

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Best PracticesPlan early• Plan early

• Use existing communication networksg

• Form interdisciplinary partnerships

• Engage audiences across the region or state

• Small steps are good steps

• Communicate w/ local stakeholders▫ Invite decision-makers to events

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Best PracticesU ili l• Utilize volunteers

• Find a local championFind a local champion

• Do not use a black box approach▫ Build into existing food system projects- farmers

markets, BF BL campaigns, new business development

• Evaluate and celebrate

We have resources to share:▫ Media releases, “Getting Started” pub, policy template

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Future Steps• Official 2010 Farm to School Week• Official 2010 Farm-to-School Week

• Infrastructure development- production food • Infrastructure development production, food hubs, processing, distribution

• School and community gardening

• Assessment:▫ Week▫ Program

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Successes

• PBS Special- America's Heartland

USDA T ti l T i it H i b Cit • USDA Tactical Team visit- Harrisonburg City Public School System

• Silver Diner Restaurant Program

• Diverse collaboration