嘿嘿视频

Project aims to boost school nutrition and specialty crops

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Photo: Plate of vegetables with dip
Photo: Plate of vegetables with dip

A new farm-to-school initiative, led by a 嘿嘿视频 team, will help provide children in three Northern California school districts with the healthier school lunches called for in the recently passed federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

The Agricultural Sustainability Institute at 嘿嘿视频 has begun working with school districts in Oakland, Winters and Redding on a participatory project to expand student access to local, seasonal fresh produce; provide local markets for specialty crop growers; and help integrate school food with nutrition education, school gardens and classroom lessons. The institute received a $497,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop the program.

The initiative will help those districts improve the nutritional quality of cafeteria meals in order to promote health and address childhood obesity, central concerns of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

鈥淧roviding access to healthy school lunches is a vital part of childhood nutrition, and this program will also help kids develop lifelong healthy eating habits,鈥 said project leader Gail Feenstra, the food systems coordinator at the Agricultural Sustainability Institute.

The 嘿嘿视频 team will work with the three school districts to benefit more than 50,000 children by increasing the availability of seasonal, local fruits and vegetables in school meals. In about two-thirds of the schools in these districts, at least half of the students receive free and reduced-price lunches.

鈥淩ight now, only about four in 10 California kids eat five or more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day,鈥 said Feenstra. 鈥淭he child nutrition bill paves the way for more healthful school lunches, and our program will help connect schools with local farmers who grow the fruits and vegetables that are an important part of healthful meals.鈥

As part of the program, schools will work with community partners, UC Cooperative Extension and the 嘿嘿视频 team to design menus that incorporate fresh, local produce. Ultimately, this project will develop farm-to-school methods that can be expanded and replicated by school districts statewide.

This fall, the USDA awarded $55 million in specialty-crops funding; California received nearly $17.3 million, more than any other state.

The 嘿嘿视频 grant will also allow California specialty-crop producers to expand their market opportunities into farm-to-school programs. California is the nation鈥檚 largest producer of specialty crops, accounting for 40 percent of the nation鈥檚 specialty-crop production according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and dried fruits.

Founded in 2006, the Agricultural Sustainability Institute at 嘿嘿视频 works to ensure access to healthy food and promote the vitality of agriculture today and for future generations, through integrative research, education, communication and early action on big, emerging issues. The institute includes the UC statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the 嘿嘿视频 Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility and the 嘿嘿视频 Student Farm. More information from the institute is available online at: .

Media Resources

Pat Bailey, Research news (emphasis: agricultural and nutritional sciences, and veterinary medicine), 530-219-9640, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu

Gail Feenstra, Agricultural Sustainability Institute, (530) 752-8408, gwfeenstra@ucdavis.edu

Colin Bishop, Agricultural Sustainability Institute, (530) 752-5299, cbishop@ucdavis.edu

Secondary Categories

University Food & Agriculture

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