PCC Sound Consumer archive — February 2004 Use the links below to navigate through the above archived issue. To view the current month's issue, use the links on the left.

Top stories | Your co-op at work | Insights by Goldie | News bites | Letters to editor

PCC Sound Consumer

Insights by Goldie

(February 2004)

by Goldie Caughlan
PCC Nutrition Education Manager

Farm-to-cafeteria connections

On a beautiful summer day a few years ago, everything changed for Vanessa Ruddy when a drunken, speeding driver struck a car she was in, killing her friend and leaving her clinging to life with severe injuries. She slowly regained her health and life moved on. After spending some time with her recently, I experienced Vanessa as a strong, quiet, intelligent woman, whose sheer will must have helped her heal, even as it helps direct her now.

Vanessa is not just a survivor, she's a winner. And she's determined to encourage others so that they can help make changes just as she has. But I'm ahead of the story.

Improving school nutrition Call your school and ask to talk with the food service provider, who contracts with vendors for the lunch program. Resources Download the following PDF files at http://agr.wa.gov/Marketing/ SmallFarm/farmtocafeteria.htm. "Farm-to-cafeteria Connections Handbook" — Published by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, this resource provides locally relevant information, how-to information and case studies of successful projects across the country. Hard copies are available free of charge by contacting small farms@agr.wa.gov or by calling 360-902-1884 to speak with the program manager, Leslie Zenz, or program coordinator, Kelli Sanger. "A Salad Bar Featuring Organic Choices: Revitalizing the School Lunch Program" — Written April 2003. An in-depth look at the Olympia school district lunch program, which features an "Organic Choices Salad Bar" and buys direct from local farmers. Explains how the farm-to-cafeteria program started and how the district changed the school lunch offering while keeping the program financially stable.

In 2001, Vanessa discovered Lincoln Elementary, a good alternative elementary school near her Olympia, Washington home, and enrolled her son. But she was shocked from the first day to realize that such a progressive school — "they even were growing organic vegetables with the kids" — served the standard school lunch meals.

At home she makes it a priority to serve natural and organic foods, even on a single-parent's limited income, because it is important. She made the best of the situation all year, wanting not to cause problems, but becoming more displeased. She mostly sent her son to school with a home-packed lunch, but kids like to eat what others have and that was tense.

Near the end of the school term, she happened to see on a form the words "District Child Nutrition Supervisor, Paul Flock" and a telephone number. It was not until a few days later that she got the nerve to make the call, still shaking. He was open and friendly and basically agreed when she said she thought the school lunches could be improved, at least by beginning to serve fresh and organic local produce, like a salad bar and fresh fruit. His openness to suggestion reassured her. He said, "Let's talk about that some more. Give me a call."

Soon school ended for the summer, busy weeks slipped into months, and it was September 2002. School was starting and she hadn't called. She now felt more comfortable, made an appointment and went to discuss the situation in Paul Flock's office. They discussed her concerns and suggestions, and she added that she believed many parents and teachers would agree.

"Paul just didn't miss a beat," she says. "He picked up a phone and called Charlie's Produce," which specializes in organic and local produce. Vanessa arranged meetings with Lincoln parents, teachers, community members and the school principal, bringing them together at Paul's office. Just one month later the children and staff were happily eating fresh, local, organic vegetables. The daily dessert was dropped in favor of seasonal fresh organic fruits.

In October 2002, Lincoln Elementary became a pilot program for the Organic Choices salad bar. Today, 13 elementary schools in the Olympia School District participate, but not yet the high schools —although Vanessa may help change that too. Even just one or two parents, staff or community members could spearhead further action.

Vanessa Ruddy, here's a very big "Thank you!" You took that first step for action. That's always the most dreaded; a big hurdle that many never get over. Your approach helped catalyze and energize and encourage part of a "movement" — one that's in full swing, all over the country; the reclaiming of our local and regional food system.

Vanessa is putting together a video of interviews and stories, which can be used as an organizing tool for others who want to help organize better foods for their schools. When it's done, I'll let you know in this column.

The 2002 Farm Bill includes several helpful changes. The bill includes language that "encourages" schools to purchase locally grown products. It also "directs" the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to "encourage" all institutions that provide school foods to make "maximum use of locally grown produce." As Vanessa found, it also may be fairly easy to include buying from organic farmers.