Farm to School

National Farm to School Network Web site

School Food Purchase Study-III: Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico Final Report

Farm to School and School Garden programs have gained momentum and visibility over the past decade on the mainland and over the past five years in Hawai‘i. Farm to School and School Garden programs have the potential to stimulate local economies, foster healthy school food environments, support garden-based nutrition education, build relationships between farmers and schools, and inspire the next generation to respect and work with the land. Here are the statistics for the U.S.:

States with operational Programs: 50
Number of schools involved: 12,429
Number of students reached: 5,746,400
Dollar amount spent on locally purchased foods: $13 million

In Hawai‘i, according to our most recent Farm to School and School Garden Hui Survey of 2012, there are 168 school learning gardens in Hawai'i reaching 21,577 students in the 2012 school year.

The 2012 Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Survey Summary will be available here.

In Hawai‘i, the Office of Child Nutrition administers the USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The FFVP is a national initiative to make fresh produce available in schools with high percentages of students receiving free and reduced lunch. The FFVP supplements students' overall diets and encourages healthier snack choices. While improving the school food environment in general, the program also promotes healthy eating habits in youth by introducing them to the diversity of fresh fruits and vegetables available in Hawai‘i.

Read the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs "Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program" brochure.

“One of the benefits for students is the opportunity to sample local produce, or exotic produce they may not necessarily have access to at home,” said Glenna Owens, director of the DOE School Food Services Branch.

Participating schools offer students fresh fruit and vegetables during the school day and receive reimbursements ranging from $50 to $75 per student. There were over 50 programs in the state during the 2012-2013 school year.

You can learn more about this program here or by reviewing the Office of Child Nutrtion's PPT on the FFVP.

The National Farm to School Network provides support for schools (K-12) to connect with local farms, with the objective of serving fresh, locally grown, healthy meals in school cafeterias, improve student nutrition, provide nutrition education opportunities, and support local and regional farmers. Check out their Web site and resources covering the 50 states.

The Farm to Preschool Web site functions as a clearinghouse of resources from programs around the country and as a means to network with existing and emerging efforts.

Many states, such as Oregon, are creating Farm to School and School Garden Policies. In 2011, Upstream Public Health published the Health Impact Assessment of HB 2800, a Farm to School and School Garden Policy document. You can download the entire HIA Report or read the Executive Summary.

Oregon also has created a "Working History of Farm to School Legislation."

The Kohala Center used the Health Impact Assessment of the County of Hawai‘i Agricultural Plan in making recommendations for the development of Farm to School and School Garden programs on Hawai‘i Island and across the state. Read the Executive Summary or read the full report.