Welcome
Saratoga County
Submit your own event for this County
Hudson Mohawk RC&D Farm to School Program
Contact:
Elizabeth
Marks, Hudson
Mohawk RC&D Coordinator
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Elizabeth.marks@ny.usda.gov
(518) 828-4385 x105
Project Objectives:
The Hudson Mohawk Resource
Conservation and Development Council Inc.
(HMRC&D) has been working on a Farm to School program over the past
several
years and has learned what works and what doesn’t when it comes to
direct farm
to school sales. This project uses what has worked with the Councils
pilot program with Greenville Central School
in Greene County and applies it to a wider geographic
area. The HMRC&D has found that the most successful farm to school
programs involve fruit orchards since they often have more experience
with direct marketing, can deliver, have storage crops available during
the
school year, have extra product to market, and can sell to schools more
profitable value added items such as cider and fresh made doughnuts.
Several
orchards have approached the HMRC&D seeking assistance with
marketing directly
to schools and the Council has formed a working committee to assist
them. Schools have identified a need to make meals more nutritious and
are looking
for local, fresh fruits and vegetables that are affordable and easy to
prepare.
This project involves three main components. The first is the
creation of a
marketing/purchasing guide and directory for farms and schools, the
second is a
series of educational and networking events to provide information and
connection opportunities for farmers and schools, and the third is a
mini-grant program of marketing funds for farmers to promote
their farm and local agriculture in the school. Expected outcomes are
increased sales for farmers of surplus products.
Project Partners:
The HMRC&D has a project committee made up of council members, Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Columbia, Greene, Montgomery, Albany, Schenectady, and
Rensselaer counties, the Rensselaer Economic Development office, Roots and
Wisdom, Indian Ladder Farm, Niskayuna schools, and other farmers and food
service directors.
Saratoga Springs City School District Farm to School Program
Listed Date: May 1st, 2008
Contact:
Margaret Lamb, School Lunch Program Director
Saratoga Springs City School District
m_lamb@saratogaschools.org
518-693-1456/518-583-4704
Project Objectives: The Saratoga Springs
City School District Farm to School Program is committed to providing
the freshest least processed whole food for students while supporting local
farms in the community. Students benefit from learning about food and
agriculture. We hope our district will incorporate agriculture and the
processes used for food to go from the ground to the plate in the curriculum.
We have encouraged our schools to start school gardens. We do not have
adequate commitment to start this year, but hope to gather enough
interest to be successful next year.
During New York Harvest for New York Kids Week we brought the kindergarten class from one of our elementary schools to tour the local Farmers Market. Cornell Cooperative Extension held an apple taste test for students, rating the students' favorite variety.
A key challenge for us is to find farmers willing to bid on our produce. This year we got our request for bid out early in the spring. We are using every resource possible to contact local farmers. Another key challenge is the labor involved with preparing fresh foods. I've provided lots of positive feedback to my staff. There is more work involved but the results have been worth it. We have had lots of positive feedback from students, parents and our Board of Education on our Farm to School efforts.
Plans
For The Future: We will continue to purchase from local farms. We hope
to find additional farmers to sell to us. We would like to establish
school gardens next year. we would also like to have farm tours and
have local farmers come in to speak to students about agriculture.
Project
Partners: Cornell Cooperative Extension has helped us by distributing
our request for bids to local farmers. Our local farmers market
coordinator, Suzanne Voigt has also helped by distributing our requests
to the participating farmers. The NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets
have been of assistance by providing contacts of others who are
sourcing local foods. They also helped by providing Pride of New York
materials for New York Harvest for New York Kids Week. Pat Sheldon from
Sheldon Farms sells potatoes to us. She has provided a number of
helpful contacts and promotional ideas. She has shared her knowledge of
marketing with us.