Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Healthy Kids Conference 11-5-03Jim Mansfield, Director

Division of Horticulture & Aquaculture

KY Farm-to-School Program

To provide high quality fresh local food to KY public institutions at a fair price while at the same time providing

sales and income opportunities for KY farms.

MISSION STATEMENT

Farm Sales Potential

1665 Schools in KY (2001)Approximately 82,275,000

meals served annuallyCreates marketing

opportunities for produce, dairy products and meat from KY family farms

Kentucky’s Unique Situation

89,000 Farms, mostly small 3.1 Billion Dollars in Agriculture Sales (2002)Approx. 33% Crop & 66% LivestockTobacco up to 1 Billion in Sales (1998)50% Cut in Quota Tobacco:

– High Value per Acre– Not Perishable– Price and Sales are Guaranteed

Produce Marketing

Four key points needed to establish a viable wholesale market – Quality– Volume– Service– Price

West Kentucky Growers CooperativeGreen River Produce Marketing Cooperative

Cumberland Farm Products, Inc.Central Kentucky Growers’ Association

Central Kentucky Growers’ Association

2190 Cincinnati PikeGeorgetown, KY 40324502-863-0002

Cumberland Farm Products469 East Highway 90 By-passMonticello, KY 42633606-348-8405

West Kentucky Growers Co-op806 KY 279 NorthOwensboro, KY 42301270-764-2667

Green River Produce Marketing Association

PO Box 71Horse Cave, KY 42749270-786-4323

Areas serviced by Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable marketing cooperatives

Farm to School - History

Idea took root in May 2000 A joint interest and effort by USDA, KDA,

UK Extension and KY Dept. of EducationPilot program in 2000 - regions 4 & 8Sales of cabbage, broccoli and fall

decorative items (mini pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn)

Farm to School - History

2001& 2002 state-wide program 98 Schools participatedKDA Marketing coordinated crop offerings

and delivery schedulesKDA Food Distribution coordinated

distribution and school produce orders DOD coordinated bid process, quality control

and payments to growers

Farm-to-School Menu 2002

Seedless WatermelonsYukon Gold PotatoesFall Décor KitRed CabbageGreen CabbageBroccoli

Advantages of Kentucky FTS

Allows schools an opportunity to support local agriculture and purchase fresh products

Offers a “teachable moment” about food Provides an additional market for KY farmsState-wide distribution of productsPrices are competitive with national marketsQuality controlMultiple products supplied by multiple growers

Challenges

Most KY produce = June, July & August2000 thru 2002 MO was cumbersome Schools have limited produce preparation

abilitiesTracking KY products - is this working and

are we getting what we asked for?New crops and or new time frames are needed Program loyalty- patience please!

The Future

Work mainly through the DOD vendorsEncourage early and late KY produce

cropsDevelop fresh-cut and processing

opportunitiesLook for ways to link individual farms

with local schools

HAPPY CUSTOMERS !!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Daviess County Schools

Ms. Lisa SimsFood Service Director

Daviess County Schoolsutilize Farm to School Program

Support local farmers

Fresh, quality products

Efficient way to use Commodity Dollars

Farm to School Purchases for 2002-2003

Seedless Watermelons –290 melons, $2297

Green Cabbage- 40/25lb, $233Broccoli – 60 bushels, $856Fall Décor Kit- 30 kits, $300Red CabbageYukon Gold Potatoes

DCPS Farm to School Products for 2003-2004

Request KY Grown on Fax Cover Sheets when requesting produce orders from the Department of Defense.

This year Watermelons have been ordered

DOD Produce

Encourages schools to offer more fresh fruit and vegetable choices

Cuts out the middle man of receiving fresh items through commodity program

More Salad!

For healthier choices

To help meet nutrient requirements

Justify Salad Bars for teachers