Letters to the Editor and Farm to School - A Few Tips
Letters to the editors of local newspapers are one way to bring attention to Farm to
School programs. They are generally easier to place in newspapers than op-eds and, in
some cases, can be just as effective. Almost all papers from major dailies to hometown
weeklies take letters to the editor, and they are definitely read by their subscribers.
Here are a few tips for writing letters that raise farm to school issues:
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Your letter is more likely to be printed if it relates, even indirectly, to a recent
news item that ran in your paper. But given the range of issues that potentially have
a farm to school connection, finding an opportunity shouldn't be hard. For instance,
health and obesity stories are quite common these days as are food, agriculture, and
environment articles. You don't need more than a few lines or facts from a story to
build your letter around. Simply reference the story at the beginning of your letter
and then draw an inference to farm to school.
Examples: "I was particularly concerned reading your recent article on global warming
(or gas prices or new energy sources). Shouldn't we be doing everything we can to
conserve energy? One idea that would help both children and our region's farmers would
be for our local schools to buy more food closer to home. That way we could avoid the
huge energy costs associated with trucking food thousands of miles."
"I found your article on childhood obesity shocking. I think our schools should do
everything they can to increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in their
cafeterias. I've found that my children eat more vegetables when they come from our
own garden or the farmers' market. Locally produced food tastes better and it helps
our farmers when we buy from them. Why can't our schools do that too?"
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Make the letters somewhat personal, don't overdo the facts and data, and make it as
relevant as possible to your community. Also keep it simple - short sentences and
paragraphs, everyday vocabulary, and one or two clearly stated points are best.
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Obviously, the Community Food Security Coalition would also like you to make a
connection to public policy. Closing your letter by urging Congress (your state
legislature or even a local school board if they have pending farm to school
proposals) to provide more support for farm to school would be extremely helpful.
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If the letter runs, send copies to your elected officials. If your letter doesn't
run, don't give up. Find a new opportunity a month or so later and keep on trying.
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Check the editorial page of your paper(s) for specific letter submission guidelines.
Generally letters should not be more than 150 words, but the paper and often its
website will give you more specifics, including how and where to submit the letter.
Good luck and good writing!
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