Research & Practice
Farm to School Tool Development: Guidance for farm direct purchasing and kitchen produce handling in a large district central kitchen foodservice model
Increased childhood obesity and interest in local food systems have led school districts to consider farm to school programs. Schools face many hurdles in implementing farm to school. This includes challenges in produce handling, recipe development and local food purchasing. Large urban school districts, such as Kent School District, present particular challenges due to larger volumes required from local farms. Recently updated legislation to the Farm Bill (2008) and Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (2010) have detailed specifications on purchasing local, unprocessed products for schools which can outweigh benefits of purchasing these foods for schools. In addition, variability in school foodservice systems require creative processing of raw produce for acceptability and quality to meet established food standards.
The objective of this project was to develop tools that will aid procurement and serving local food in Kent School District (KSD) by:
- Tailoring recipes that incorporate WA-grown produce to the central kitchen foodservice model and appeal to students.
- Enhancing quality, preparation, and promotion of local produce used.
- Providing guidance on regulatory framework, such as farm food safety, in school food purchasing.
Materials Available
Project Type(s): MPH Practicum, PH Concentration Poster
Author(s): Angela Tam
Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training
Year: 2012
Adviser(s):