The Decatur Farm to School Initiative is a grassroots effort led by parents, teachers, school administrators, community members and organizations.  Farm to School programs connect schools with local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and supporting local farmers. The Initiative team was given an initial approval to explore the program’s potential by the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) Board in April 2009.

The Decatur Farm to School Initiative has subsequently held a town-hall meeting in May 2009 and established a set of committees to provide recommendations on a comprehensive initiative plan.  The Steering Committee developed the Initiative Logic Model and compiled the Initiative Plan, both of which will be presented to the CSD Board in November 2009.  Initial plans for the Farm to School Program include:

• Edible school gardens, planted and maintained by students, teachers, parents, school staff and community members
• An increase in the number and types of fresh, local foods served in schools
• An integrated curriculum focusing on nutrition, science, biology, math, social sciences, and local community resources
• Farm field trips and farm education that explores local economics, biological systems, local environmental issues and the holistic connection that links food, health, and the environment
• Hands on food preparation and taste-tests featuring fresh, local foods and local chefs

Why Farm to School?

Farm to School is a natural response to growing concerns over childhood obesity, the viability of the American family farm, and the environmental impact of our consumption patterns.  Farm to School connects these concerns with a solution that can have benefits for students, farmers, schools, and communities.

Farm to School programs are not only about sourcing locally, but also about sourcing fresh and nutritious foods, providing educational opportunities for students about food choices and about where their food comes from, and helping to reinvigorate local economies.

• Farm to School is good for students: Farm to School can mean having access to fresh, nutritious food, as well as gaining invaluable knowledge and making more informed food decisions.  If our kids learn to make informed eating choices now, they are more likely to make informed choices as adults.
• Farm to School is good for schools: Fresh and local food options in cafeterias can increase participation rates in school food programs, thereby boosting food service revenue. Gaining access to fresh and local foods also enable school food services to expand their options in ways that can support wellness and curricular priorities.
• Farm to School is good for farmers: Farmers can benefit from increased sales opportunities that school lunch programs can offer. Once a relationship is established, schools offer steady and reliable demand for their product. This more direct farm income can also garner farmers a greater share of the food dollar. Farm to school programs are also more likely to expand local food purchasing in the household as well, as students bring home lessons to their parents.
• Farm to School is good for the community: Spending on local food sources stimulates the local economy by keeping and multiplying food dollars in the community. Viable farms provide jobs, pay taxes, and protect working agricultural land. Undeveloped farm land can also benefit the region by maintaining open space, a diversified wildlife habitat and reducing the cost of community services.
• Farm to School is good for the environment: Sourcing locally also supports a food system that is more sustainable – providing an alternative to the current system of production and distribution. By supporting sustainable producers through consumer demand for fresh, healthy local foods, individuals can use their purchasing power to vote for more environmentally sound production and delivery of food and help to preserve the health and beauty of farmland.