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Local foods growing in schools
May 15th, 2008
Farmers see increasing success as rising fuel costs escalate grocery bills
By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau
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First published: Thursday, May 15, 2008
ALBANY -- New York farmers want school kids to eat their fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of milk -- if it comes from the Empire State.
It's an old refrain, but New York farmers are making some headway these days because it's getting prohibitively expensive, as fuel costs rise, to import products from distant places such as California and China.
Also, the years-long push to get healthier foods into school cafeterias gives opportunities to local farmers who say victuals like squash or low-fat cheese can catch on when youngsters are exposed to them.
"So much of this is forming new habits and education," said Richard Ball, a Schoharie farmer who has promoted his products by inviting youngsters to his farm during squash harvest. He said the kids actually enjoyed eating squash once they got in the habit.
"Simply having it available can often increase consumption," said Jennifer Nardone, an Albany dietitian.
Building on these trends, members of the state Farm Bureau and some upstate food producers came to the state Capitol Wednesday to urge passage of "Healthy Foods" legislation that would give their products an even greater edge.
There are several versions of the bills, sponsored with Sens. Kenneth LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, and Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, as well as Assemblywomen Cathy Nolan, D-Ridgewood, and Sandra Galef, D-Ossining.
Among other things, the proposals would place restrictions on cholesterol and calories in school food, which could work in favor of fruits and vegetables.
Farmers also are getting smarter about packaging.
Jerry Dygert, a food packer in Keeseville, Essex County, recently started selling apples to the New York City school system. His Grab Apples come pre-sliced in colorful candy-like packages.
Still, Dygert, Ball and others said, it's difficult to crack the school food market. Cafeteria managers need suppliers who can deliver products to several school buildings on a regular basis, and not many farmers are equipped to do that, said Carol Beebe, executive director of the state School Nutrition Association.
And there's the plain fact that kids continue to prefer foods like pizza, burgers and chicken nuggets, Beebe said.
Clearly, farmers and nutritionists still have their work cut out for them with kids like Matthew Iles, a fourth grader from Montgomery, Orange County, who was touring the Capitol with his class on Wednesday. Asked what his school lunch of choice is, he summed it up in one word: "Pizza."
Rick Karlin can be reached at 454-5758 or by e-mail at rkarlin@timesunion.com.
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