Farm to Institution Research: Current Status, Opportunities and Resources

Anupama JoshiNational Farm to School Network

Center for Food & Justice, UEPI, Occidental College

May 17, 2010

Farm to School Literature Review“Bearing Fruit” http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/cfj/bearingfruit.htm

It’s fun getting messy !Student Impacts

Slusser WM, Cumberland WG, Browdy BL, Lange L, Neumann C. A school salad bar increases frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption among children living in low-income households. Public Health Nutrition. Published online 5 July 2007.

Increase in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

by Students

Los Angeles Unified School District

Avg

. fru

it an

d ve

geta

ble

serv

ings

/day

00.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

1998, Pre-SaladBar Intervention

2000. Post SaladBar Intervention

MeanServingsp<0.001

Teacher Impacts

Teacher Impacts

• Increase in knowledge and awareness• Positive attitudes - modeling healthy

eating behaviors• Changes to classroom activities

Food Service Impacts

Food Service Impacts

Compton

USD

0

50

100

150

Farm Fresh Salad Bar Hot Lunch

Davis

USD

Winters

USD

% o

f USD

A re

com

men

ded

daily

al

low

ance

Feenstra Gail and Ohmart Jeri, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program• Yolo County Farm to School Evaluation Reports - 2004, 2005 and Fall/Winter 2005-06.• Compton Farm to School Demonstration Project Report, July 1, 2004- June 30, 2005.

Farm to School Meals Offer Greater Variety and Amounts of Fruits and Vegetables

Farmer Impacts

• On average 5% increase in income

• Market diversification• Opportunities for

exploring minimal processing and preservation

• Establishment of grower cooperatives / collaboratives

Parent Impacts

• Increase in knowledge, attitudes awareness• Changes in behavior?

– household shopping patterns– Lifestyle changes Family health outcomes

• Need to document - long term benefits of Farm to School reaching families

Policy Impacts

• Programs affecting policy development • Policy affecting program development

and institutionalization

Federal – State – District / Institutional – Local city / county

• Invested $160,000 (7¢/lunch)• Inspired purchases = $1,128,317• 401 of 409 economic sectors• 1.86 economic multiplier• 2.43 employment multiplier

Economic Analysis

Community Impacts

• Partnerships • Economic development • Local / Regional Food System development

Farm to College Programs

Future Research Priorities • Baseline

– Creating common templates, tools, systems– Using existing national tools – USDA Food Environment Atlas,

CDC- SHPPS • Students

– Health – Academic links

• Economics – School – Farm – Local / Regional