November 18, 2013 Bring Food Home Conference

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

• Healthy choice fundraiser

• Selling Ontario fruit and vegetables

• Collaborative initiative:

o Ministry of Education

o Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

o Dietitians of Canada

o Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

• Modeled after the successful Farm to School, Manitoba Healthy Choice Fundraiser.

• Beginning in 2010, school Enrolment has grown from 66 in the pilot year to 432 in year three (includes day care).

• In 2012, the program supplied families with approximately 900,000 pounds of Manitoba produce.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Why is the Fresh from the Farm Project so important? • Raises awareness about the important role good nutrition plays in the development and well-being of children and youth. • Provides opportunities for introducing the related topics of

agriculture, food, and healthy eating into the classroom.

• Helps to create a more supportive nutrition environment in schools.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

• Aligns with PPM 150: Ontario’s School Food and Beverage Policy.

• Provides healthy fundraising/profits for schools.

• Serves to stimulate Ontario’s economy through the promotion and sales of fresh, Ontario fruit and vegetables.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Participation

• 10 School Boards in Northern and

South-western Ontario were invited to

participate in the pilot.

• Chosen based on existing assets (e.g. champion, distribution)

through the delivery of complementary programming.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Offered two bundles of Ontario fruit

and vegetables as follows:

• Bundle A, $10.00

o 5 lb Potatoes, 3 lb Carrots, 3 lb Onions, 1 lb Parsnips

• Bundle B, $20.00

o 8 lb box of Apples

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Profit/Costing Model

• 40% of sales go directly to the school

• 50% of sales are returned to Ontario’s farmers

• 10% is returned to Fresh from the Farm for program sustainability.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

* Francis H. Clergue Public School, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Results

• 70 schools participated in the pilot.

• 115, 000 pounds of Ontario fruit and vegetables was distributed to Ontario families. – 53,000 pounds in the south, and 62,000

pounds in the north.

• $128,000 raised by Ontario schools – approximately $48,000 kept by Ontario schools, $68,000 returned to Ontario growers, and $12,000 retained by Fresh from the Farm.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

Next Steps

• Project evaluation to be conducted in December 2013

• Pending the evaluation outcome, consideration will be given to growing the program through targeted expansion to other school boards / regions across Ontario.

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

The Fresh from the Farm Advisory Committee appreciates the cooperative efforts of the school communities, public health

teams, and Ontario growers who have enthusiastically embraced this innovative pilot project, supporting schools to fundraise

healthier in 2013!

Thank you...

Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools

For more information visit:

• www.eatrightontario.ca/en/freshfromthefarm

• www.eatrightontario.ca/fr/freshfromthefarm