Farm to School. USDA Foods to Support Farm to School 11/29/2018

Transcription

1 USDA Foods to Support Farm to School Jenna Segal, MPH Midwest Farm to School Regional Lead Office of Community Food Systems, USDA-FNS Farm to School 1

2 Food Education Local Food What Types of Products? 2

3 Defining Local Within a state Within a city or county Within a radius Within a region Definition may change depending on: Season Product Special events Local Food in Schools Direct Purchases School Garden Individual Producer Producer Co-op/ Farmers Market/ Food Hub USDA Foods & USDA DoD Fresh Program Indirect Purchases Distributor 3

4 100% American- Grown What Types of Products Does USDA Buy? Over 200 foods! Poultry and Livestock turkey, beef, pork, catfish Fruits fresh, dried, canned, frozen Vegetables fresh, canned, frozen Grains rice, pasta, flour, oatmeal Cheese, peanut butter, eggs 4

5 Who Buys the Food? Food and Nutrition Service Oversight, administration, work with state agencies Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Develops specifications and purchases products Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency (USDA DoD Fresh) Contracts with produce distributors across the country Four ways USDA Foods support local purchases 1. Maximizes funds for local purchases 2. Champions American agriculture 3. Supports local processors 4. Promotes local fruit and vegetable producers through USDA DoD Fresh 5

6 1 Maximize Funds for Local Purchases By using USDA Foods products, schools can save cash reimbursement dollars for local purchases. For example: Combine local lettuce with USDA Foods whole grain tortillas and USDA Foods smoked deli turkey breast to create wraps. Mix USDA Foods flour with local flour to bake rolls. Maximizing the Dollar NSLP Per-Lunch Reimbursement Rates Paid: $0.37 Reduced Price: $2.89 Free: $3.25 Nationwide Eligibility Paid: 27% Reduced Price: 6% Free: 67% Cash Reimbursements & Student Payments USDA USDA DoD Fresh Foods 6

7 USDA is a partner in meeting my local purchasing goals. I often shift my entitlement to products that are not available locally and to products, like the roast chicken, that USDA Foods is able to offer at a lower price point than I could get as an individual school district. -Andrea Early, Director of School Nutrition, Harrisonburg City Public Schools, VA Whole, unprocessed product Local Swap New Recipe USDA Foods New Product 7

8 2 Champions American Agriculture USDA Foods are 100% American grown! Some products are traditionally purchased from the same states each year. Find out what is purchased from your region. State of origin information Become a USDA Foods vendor Becoming a USDA Foods vendor 8

9 Maximize Local & Regional Purchases USDA Foods by Region Midwest Apples Cherries Beef Beans Carrots Cheese Green Beans Southeast Chicken Peanut Butter Catfish Turkey Rice Flour Mountain Plains Beans Beef Flour Pasta Pork Northeast Flour Corn Green beans Southwest Rice Beans Peanut Butter Beef Mid Atlantic Corn Pasta Beans Chicken Western Pollock Cheese Apricots Peaches Tomatoes Pears Potatoes State of Origin Report: 9

10 Champions Regional Agriculture Figure out which USDA Foods are already coming from your region, and highlight those. When ordering USDA Foods, think about which ones could come from your region. Guidance & Promotion From Vermont Agency of Education 10

11 3 Supports Local Processors Most states send a portion of their USDA Foods to processors to be turned into end products like burritos, sandwiches or rice bowls. Schools must access the Illinois Commodity System (ICS) to place their USDA Foods order for the following school year. Check to see if your state has agreements with processors located close to home or work with your district and state agency to procure the services of a local processor. 11

12 Supports Local Processors (Vermont Example) In-State Processors Pastabilities Local company making pizza with USDA Foods Mozzarella Cheese. Vermont Bean Crafters Mixing USDA Foods canned beans with local carrots, onions, kale & other products to make bean burgers. Nationally Approved Processors from the State or Region Any local examples you re using? 4 Promotes Local Fruit and Vegetable Producers through USDA DoD Fresh The USDA DoD Fresh program allows schools to use their USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh, and often local, produce. DoD contracts with 47 produce distributors across the country, who are encouraged to provide local produce whenever possible and identify locallysourced items in the ordering catalog. 12

13 Local Produce through USDA DoD Fresh Vendors are encouraged to connect with local producers Most already do! Many state agencies and other stakeholders help make connections. Local produce must be within a reasonable price range of national averages. Ordering Local in FFAVORS ***LOCAL GROWN*** 13

14 USDA DoD Fresh Vendor can provide more information about which farms or towns the local products come from in the News Flash section of FFAVORS. Getting More Local DoD Fresh Options DoD only allows local produce to be listed if it falls within the same price range as nationally sourced domestic produce. Schools and State Agencies can ask DoD to add specific products to their catalogs. If your vendor is already supplying local produce for their commercial customers, find out what those products are, and ask DoD to add them to your USDA DoD Fresh Catalog. 14

15 Statewide Promotion Raise awareness and speak to the advantages of participation Assist participants with identifying local, seasonal products Identify USDA-developed recipes that include local, seasonal products Help interested parties engage in other farm to school activities Provide training and technical assistance related to all farm to school activities 15

16 State Resources State Departments of Education State Departments of Agriculture State Farm to School Coordinators Farm to School Resources USDA Farm to School Website and E-Letter (at USDA Farm to School Grant Program Farm to School Census Farm to School Regional Leads v WRO MPRO SWRO MWRO SERO NERO MARO National Office 16

17 Questions? 17