Farm to School: New Markets for Colorado Specialty Crops
Client
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Stakeholders
K-12 schools, LiveWell communities, Agricultural producers
Description
The three year project launched in February 2010 will bring fresh, nutritious local produce to Colorado K-12 schools, create new school-based markets for Colorado specialty crop producers and processors, and establish enduring multi-generational local food system connections between towns/cities and rural agricultural communities. With the rise of childhood obesity, school administrators, teachers, and parents have a heightened awareness about the importance of nutritious fresh food and are strong advocates for FTS and this has been especially true in Colorado’s LiveWell communities.
The project will provide:
- Marketing. Ensure that Colorado policy makers, school district staff, producers, and the media are aware of the benefits of Farm to School.
- New Networks for Producers. Ensure that Colorado specialty crop producers know the potential of Farm to School markets and how to work with their local schools on food sales and educational efforts.
- New Networks for Schools. Ensure that staff in Colorado schools has the knowledge and skills to work with their local specialty crop farmers in order to bring local foods into the schools.
- New Classroom Strategies. Disseminate information to schools across the state to help them include food systems, local agriculture, and nutrition education in the classroom through collaboration with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and private school associations.
Products
External Links
- Colorado LiveWell
- Colorado Market Maker
- Colorado Proud
- Farm to School survey of Colorado producers Healthy Kids, Healthy Farms
- Farm to School survey of Colorado school food managers Healthy Kids and Healthy Economies
- National Conference of State Legislatures policy brief on State Farm-to-School Policies
- National Farm to School organization
- Revolution Foods
- USDA “Eat Smart – Farm Fresh!”
