Oklahoma Farm-to-School:
Growing Healthy Kids and a Healthy Rural
Economy
Oklahoma Farm-to-School Resource Guide
for Farmers coming soon! |
How Farmers can get Involved with Farm-to-School
•
Get a copy of The Oklahoma Farm-To-School Report and The
Oklahoma Food Connection 2005: A Directory of Agricultural Producers,
Crops and Institutional Buyers.
Oklahoma Food Policy Council
c/o Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture,
PO Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953. (918)647-9123.
Farm-To-School
Report,
The
Food Connection.
Make sure your farm is listed in The Food Connection,
and if not, submit your information for the on-line version. Contact
the Kerr Center at PO Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953. (918)647-9123.
Or sign
up on-line
Check The Food Connection to see what
school districts in your area have indicated interest in making
local produce purchases. Even if not listed, it is still possible
that a school district may be receptive to purchasing locally
grown produce.
• Sign up to participate in the Farm-to-School Speakers’
Bureau, so school teachers can know you’re interested
in visiting their nearby school or possibly hosting a tour of your
farm.Contact the Kerr Center at PO Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953. (918)
647-9123. Or sign
up on-line.
For some great ideas on hosting farm tours for school kids,
take a look at this publication: Farm-to-School
Farm Visit Manual.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers, PO Box 363, Davis, CA
95617. (530)756-8518.
• Make the Connection with Local schools
Farmers who want to sell locally grown produce directly to schools
should take note of how produce is bought and distributed to schools
in Oklahoma. Some schools are willing to buy directly from farmers;
others are not.
Most mid-size and large school districts buy their produce from
wholesale distributors who make regular deliveries of a wide variety
of seasonal and non-seasonal items. The majority of these items
are likely imported from out of state. Food service directors place
orders through these vendors by phone, fax or email on a regular
basis. If the product received is not what was ordered, or is in
an unsatisfactory condition, the distributor bears the burden of
resolving discrepancies with the shipper or grower.
Since some food service directors may be reluctant to experiment
with purchasing directly from farmers, it may be best to start by
approaching smaller school systems. They often have more flexibility
in purchasing and distribution.
1. Consider which crops you already grow that might be of interest
to school food services. Fresh fruits and vegetables requiring a
minimal amount of kitchen processing are ideal for starters.
2. Contact the district food service director, or in very small
school systems, the cafeteria manager or head cook, to ask if they
are interested in discussing the purchase of fresh, locally grown
produce. This initial phone contact should be used to set an appointment
for visiting about possible arrangements. Most school district phone
numbers can be found in the community pages of your local phone
book.
3. When meeting with the food service director, ask what produce
items they are interested in. Have a professional looking list of
the crops you grow, including your contact information, to leave
with the food service director. Bring samples and pictures of your
farm and/or crops, if available.
4. Ask about current produce volumes used on a weekly basis, for
each potential item, as well as the preferred delivery schedule.
Ask what the typical price ranges are for each item, as you would
like to be as competitive as possible. If the price and other terms
such as the payment schedule seem agreeable, ask the food service
director to consider trying one or two of your produce items on
a trial basis. A simple contract may be advisable to protect both
parties.
5. Deliver the highest quality product you can at the agreed upon
time. Make arrangements for future delivery of additional products.
Other publications specifically addressing farm-to-school topics
of concern to farmers:
ATTRA – National. Sustainable Agriculture Information
Service
PO Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702. 1(800)346-9140.
Bringing
Local Food to Local Institutions: A Resource Guide for Farm-to-School
and Farm- to-Institution Programs.
Community Food Security Coalition
Distribution
Models for Farm to School
DoD
Farm-to-School Program – Frequently Asked Questions
USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service, Marketing Services
Branch
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646 - S, Stop 0269, Washington,
DC 20250-0269. (202) 720-8317.
How
Local Farmers and School Food Service Buyers Are Building Alliances
This
project is supported by the Community Food Projects Program of the USDA
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, grant # 2004-33800-15141
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all
or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public
assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication
of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TDD).
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