Jane Lawton Maryland Farm to School

What is Maryland Farm to School? Legislation passed April 2008 Named for Former State Delegate Jane Lawton Introduced by State Senator Jamie Raskin in her honor Purposes: Increase Maryland-grown products in school lunches; educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet Increase income for Maryland farmers Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week September 22-26, 2008 Planned for September 14-18, 2009

Legislation passed April 2008

Named for Former State Delegate Jane Lawton

Introduced by State Senator Jamie Raskin in her honor

Purposes:

Increase Maryland-grown products in school lunches; educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet

Increase income for Maryland farmers

Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week

September 22-26, 2008

Planned for September 14-18, 2009

How is the Farm to School Program Funded and Staffed? No designated funds or staff (other duties as assigned!) Coordinated by Maryland Department of Agriculture and Department of Education with Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension 4-H and local school systems state-wide. Working group of ~12 who can make things happen; wider list of 70+ interested individuals

No designated funds or staff

(other duties as assigned!)

Coordinated by Maryland Department of Agriculture and Department of Education with Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension 4-H and local school systems state-wide.

Working group of ~12 who can make things happen; wider list of 70+ interested individuals

What Maryland grown crops can be served in schools? Apples Asian pears Carrots Cabbage Broccoli Eggs Green beans Pears Peaches Sweet corn Watermelon Cheeseburgers Cucumber and tomato salad Mac and cheese with butternut squash Maryland veggie sub with cheese Melon cup Pizza with local peppers and onions Vegetable soup

Apples

Asian pears

Carrots

Cabbage

Broccoli

Eggs

Green beans

Pears

Peaches

Sweet corn

Watermelon

Cheeseburgers

Cucumber and tomato salad

Mac and cheese with butternut squash

Maryland veggie sub with cheese

Melon cup

Pizza with local peppers and onions

Vegetable soup

Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week Kick off event at Takoma Park Middle School Bill sponsor’s district Supportive food service director and distributor Adequate facility for media event

Kick off event at Takoma Park Middle School

Bill sponsor’s district

Supportive food service director and distributor

Adequate facility for media event

Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week Goal and Outcomes Goal: 4 of 24 districts participating Result: 22 or 24 districts participated, such as… Montgomery County - Maryland f & v featured every day at all schools. Daily announcements featured an item that would be on the menu, describing the nutritional benefits and where the item was grown. Menu signs included information on the daily featured Information also distributed in elementary school menu, which goes home with 60,000 students and the Division of Food & Nutrition Service's Web page.

Goal: 4 of 24 districts participating

Result: 22 or 24 districts participated, such as…

Montgomery County - Maryland f & v featured every day at all schools. Daily announcements featured an item that would be on the menu, describing the nutritional benefits and where the item was grown. Menu signs included information on the daily featured Information also distributed in elementary school menu, which goes home with 60,000 students and the Division of Food & Nutrition Service's Web page.

Maryland Home Grown Lunch Week Examples Frederick County – Apples, cantaloupe and watermelon. Anne Arundel County / Outdoor Learning Center – students made and ate items using local foods such as chocolate zucchini cake, salsa, squash mac–n-cheese, and green beans. Cecil County - Peaches, apples, Asian pears, cheeseburgers, cherry tomatoes rainbow carrots, watermelon, sweet corn

Frederick County – Apples, cantaloupe and watermelon.

Anne Arundel County / Outdoor Learning Center – students made and ate items using local foods such as chocolate zucchini cake, salsa, squash mac–n-cheese, and green beans.

Cecil County - Peaches, apples, Asian pears, cheeseburgers, cherry tomatoes rainbow carrots, watermelon, sweet corn

Map provided by the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future

Map provided by the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future

How Did We Do It? The Time was Ripe! Broad Support Public – media, parents Political – state and local Producers Procurers Purveyors

The Time was Ripe!

Broad Support

Public – media, parents

Political – state and local

Producers

Procurers

Purveyors

How Did We Do It? Systems perspective Complex problems need innovative solutions Build relationships, trust, understanding and common commitment Establish communication protocols, collective knowledge and new capacities Success is shared.

Systems perspective

Complex problems need innovative solutions

Build relationships, trust, understanding and common commitment

Establish communication protocols, collective knowledge and new capacities

Success is shared.

How Did We Do It? Right people involved People who ask “how” – not “why” People who know system and decision-makers People who can make something happen Collaboration & Consensus Permission to do what works for you Many “right” ways to do good Generate positive “buzz”

Right people involved

People who ask “how” – not “why”

People who know system and decision-makers

People who can make something happen

Collaboration & Consensus

Permission to do what works for you

Many “right” ways to do good

Generate positive “buzz”

How Did We Do It? Models & Templates Poster, placemat, bookmarks, press releases, letters to the editor Poster >

Models & Templates

Poster, placemat, bookmarks, press releases, letters to the editor

How Did We Do It? Placemat >

How Did We Do It? Priorities vs. Possibilities: “ TBC” List (“to be considered” later as resources permit) Consider legislation providing staff and resources to manage and implement the program; grants to schools Encourage local school inter-disciplinary collaboration between teachers, food service staff, etc. Involve art and other departments. Provide models for contract growing, etc. Support school gardens; farmers’ markets at schools Involve private schools, summer programs at community colleges, and environmental education centers

Priorities vs. Possibilities: “ TBC” List

(“to be considered” later as resources permit)

Consider legislation providing staff and resources to manage and implement the program; grants to schools

Encourage local school inter-disciplinary collaboration between teachers, food service staff, etc. Involve art and other departments.

Provide models for contract growing, etc.

Support school gardens; farmers’ markets at schools

Involve private schools, summer programs at community colleges, and environmental education centers

How Did We Do It? More “TBC”… Consider local purchasing in standards for Maryland Green Schools. Participate in/exhibit at meetings of school food service directors, Maryland PTA, dieticians, medical personnel, etc. Improve MD F2S logo; labeling with individual farm names Involve county health officers, libraries, Gov’s Office for Children, UMD and JHU Public Health, Childhood Obesity programs Expand list of GAP-certified farmers and those in process

More “TBC”…

Consider local purchasing in standards for Maryland Green Schools.

Participate in/exhibit at meetings of school food service directors, Maryland PTA, dieticians, medical personnel, etc.

Improve MD F2S logo; labeling with individual farm names

Involve county health officers, libraries, Gov’s Office for Children, UMD and JHU Public Health, Childhood Obesity programs

Expand list of GAP-certified farmers and those in process

Managing the Process Convener needs neutrality, enthusiasm, and ability to resolve problems – alone or with help. Recorder (not the convener) distributes a meeting report within days of the meeting, preferably posted to web site. Identify and recruit people with the skills and talents that the group needs to achieve its goals in an acceptable period. Diverse skills and personalities are beneficial. Communicate goals effectively to anyone interested in joining the group. Update to reflect accomplishments and changes in direction.

Convener needs neutrality, enthusiasm, and ability to resolve problems – alone or with help.

Recorder (not the convener) distributes a meeting report within days of the meeting, preferably posted to web site.

Identify and recruit people with the skills and talents that the group needs to achieve its goals in an acceptable period. Diverse skills and personalities are beneficial.

Communicate goals effectively to anyone interested in joining the group. Update to reflect accomplishments and changes in direction.

Managing the Process Have an agenda. What do you want to convey, and what do you want as an outcome? Organize meetings to come away with an outcome rather than planning an outcome. Members need to invest time beforehand. Establish effective communication within the working group and with the outside world. Communicate regularly (many options available) especially with outsiders. Keep web pages up to date. These pages are your public face and recruitment advertising. Post a news item at least every 3 months. If there is no news, nothing is happening. Prepare special presentations for key audiences (legislatures, advisory boards, etc.) Celebrate milestones! Share success with partners!

Have an agenda. What do you want to convey, and what do you want as an outcome? Organize meetings to come away with an outcome rather than planning an outcome. Members need to invest time beforehand.

Establish effective communication within the working group and with the outside world. Communicate regularly (many options available) especially with outsiders.

Keep web pages up to date. These pages are your public face and recruitment advertising. Post a news item at least every 3 months. If there is no news, nothing is happening.

Prepare special presentations for key audiences (legislatures, advisory boards, etc.)

Celebrate milestones! Share success with partners!

Make Maryland Home Grown School Lunch Week A year-round experience! www.marylandfarmtoschool.org Jane M. Storrs Maryland Department of Agriculture 410-841-5770; storrsjm@mda.state.md.us

Make

Maryland Home Grown

School Lunch Week

A year-round experience!

www.marylandfarmtoschool.org

Jane M. Storrs

Maryland Department of Agriculture

410-841-5770; storrsjm@mda.state.md.us