Hawaii Farm to School Update, Mar09

HAWAI‘I FARM-TO-SCHOOL growing a movement Updated March 2009

HAWAI‘I BASICS
Isolated island chain
Population = 1.2 M
10,930 square miles; 7 populated islands
High reliance on food imports & fossil fuels
7 days worth of food on island
Ethnically & culturally diverse

HAWAI‘I AGRICULTURE
Fertile land, year-round growing season
Crop diversity increasing
GMO experimentation
High land values, shortage of farm labor
Lack of processing, distribution infrastructure
Farmers interested in supplying schools, want to know what to grow!

‘ AINA In Schools: Actively Integrating Nutrition & Agriculture in Schools
Six Integrated Components:
School Gardens, Agricultural literacy, Waste reduction & management, Nutrition education, Local & Fresh school lunch, Family & community outreach
10 participating schools on O‘ahu
Workshops, mini-grants for other schools
www.kokuahawaiifoundation.org/aina

Mala‘ai, The Culinary Gardens of Waimea Middle School
Modeled after the Edible Schoolyard
Collaborates with teachers to develop customized lessons
Breakfast snacks during testing
Community presentations & workshops
www.malaai.org

Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network
Goal: increase consumption of locally produced food on island
Networking with educators at 50+ schools on Hawai‘i Island
Workshops, networking, technical assistance
http://www.kohalacenter.org/HISGN/about.html

OTHER FARM TO SCHOOL & FOOD PROGRAMS
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha (Makaha, O‘ahu: www.hoa-aina.org)
MA‘O Youth Organic Farms and ‘Ai Pono (Wai‘anae, O‘ahu: www.maoorganicfarms.org )

OUR STRENGTHS
Growing interest in food self-sufficiency
One state-wide school district--opportunity for BIG change
DOE Wellness Policy utilized by schools to support, implement F2S
Great growing conditions!
Tight communities with strong traditions

OUR CHALLENGES
School Lunch:
One school district!
Fixed menu statewide
School budgets
DOE can’t quantify produce needs
Inconsistency of local produce; small farms
Other Components:
Not enough hours in school day
Few staff positions dedicated to F2S issues

2009 LEGISLATION
SCR121: Feasibility study for statewide F2S program (alive as of 3/30/09)
Others, deferred or waiting to be heard:
Establishes a F2S nutrition program
Local produce at lunch 1x/week
Hawai‘i products preferences
Vegetarian lunch option
Establishes the F2S program in DOE

A BRIGHT HORIZON
Increasing interest in food & fuel independence
High interest in F2S across Hawai‘i
Trainings, funding networking opportunities
Legislative interest, support
Growing number of organizations, partnerships

MAHALO! Please send inquiries or updates about your Hawai‘i program to [email_address]

Hawaii Farm to School Update, Mar09

by Kokua Hawai'i Foundation on Mar 30, 2009

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Hawaii Farm to School Update, Mar09 — Presentation Transcript