Senate Bill 1027: Farms to Schools

March 15, 2009

Problem:

Obesity and diet-related diseases are one of the greatest threats to children’s health today caused in part by a lack of fruit and vegetable consumption. Meals served in school are lacking in nutrition and often fail to incorporate fresh produce. Further, Texas schools face many obstacles to improving the quality of meals and in utilizing local producers.

At the same time, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the small farm is the fastest growing segment in the Texas agricultural industry with farmers seeking new markets to ensure continued economic success. 

Background:

For Texas in 2000-2002, 42 percent of fourth graders, 39 percent of eighth graders and 36 percent of eleventh graders were considered overweight or obese, higher than prevalence rates of adolescents living in other parts of the United States, according to a study published by the UT School of Public Health in 2005. Inadequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is a significant dietary risk behavior for the development of obesity and other chronic diseases. The American Medical  Association’s Expert Committee Recommendations (2007) suggest increasing F&V consumption as a primary strategy for preventing childhood obesity. Interventions targeting fruit and vegetable intake of adolescents can have significant, immediate and long-term impacts on student health and obesity status.

Vegetable production in Texas accounts for approximately $300 million in annual farm sales. USDA Agriculture Census figures for 1997-2002 show that in Texas small farms (10-49 acres) are the only farm category that increased in numbers. To continue this growth, farmers need access to existing and emerging markets. Small scale, family-owned produce farms support rural communities and can provide fresh produce to improve child health.

Solution:

Farm-to-School programs address our children’s health issues and increase the demand for fresh, locally-grown produce. This bill would create a multi-agency Farm-to-School coordinating task force chaired by TDA. The task force will include the TDA, TEA, DSHS, farm organizations and other relevant public and nonprofit partners. The Texas Farm-to-School program would expand and coordinate current systems and create mechanisms to facilitate local food purchases by school districts. Namely the task force would:

• Review and update as needed nutrition and food education resources
• Expand food-focused experiential education efforts
• Create small-increment grant program to schools or districts to help offset local food purchase costs.
• Develop a database of available local products for schools food service agencies, including contact and purchasing information.
• Design and carry out farmer training programs to market their products to schools and school districts, including production, marketing, postharvest handling, food safety, business management, liability and risk management, and other appropriate topics.
• Identify school cafeteria improvements that allow for handling of minimally processed, fresh, locally produced foods
• Provide technical assistance to school food service agencies to establish procedures, recipes, menu rotations and other internal processes that accommodate local foods
• Offer advanced skills development training for school food service employees to handle, prepare, and serve locally grown foods.