|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First National Farm to Cafeteria Summit to Open
Community Food Security Conference
| Title: |
Farm
to Cafeteria: Healthy Farms, Healthy Students |
| Date: |
October
4, 2002, 8 AM - 6 PM |
| Location: |
Seattle
Center Northwest Rooms, Seattle, Washington |
| Sponsors: |
Community
Food Security Coalition, Evergreen State College, USDA Agriculture
Marketing Service, Compton Foundation, and Nathan Cummings
Foundation |
| Contact: |
Marion
Kalb, Farm to School Program Director, (310) 822-5410; marion@foodsecurity.org |
| Website: |
http://www.foodsecurity.org/event_ftos.html |
The first national
summit on farm to cafeteria programs is slated for the opening
day of the Community Food Security Coalition's 6th annual conference
here in October. Farm to cafeteria leaders will convene at the
Seattle Center to review the successes and challenges of including
fresh, locally grown foods in school meal programs.
Food service programs have an important influence over students'
eating habits and health. For many students, the school cafeteria
provides the majority of their meals. Farm to cafeteria projects
offer opportunities for increasing farmer income, supporting the
local economy and the environment, and improving students' eating
habits. By purchasing directly from local farmers, food service
programs help local farms stay in business and keep dollars in
the local economy.
Speakers from Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin,
Occidental College, Portland State University, and The Evergreen
State College will join with farmers and USDA specialists to discuss
strategies for including more locally grown foods in school meals.
The conference will include workshops on farm to cafeteria projects
in the Northwest and on curricula to teach children about agriculture,
eating seasonally, and developing healthy eating habits.
Everyone concerned with the quality of food in school and college
cafeterias is welcome to attend the Farm to Cafeteria Conference.
Program and registration information is available online at
http://www.foodsecurity.org/event_ftos.html
or by phone at (310) 822-1440.
FARM TO CAFETERIA RESOURCE INFORMATION
- The USDA recently released a study on farm to cafeteria
marketing initiatives to promote local agriculture. You can
download the 40-page report at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/localfar.pdf
- The Community Food Security Coalition's report, "Healthy
Farms, Healthy Kids: Evaluating the Barriers and Opportunities
for Farm to School Programs," is available for $12 +
$4 shipping and handling at http://www.foodsecurity.org/pubs.html#healthy
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