The Institute's Agriculture Reports and Research

Farm to Cafeteria (or Farm to School) is a name used to describe programs that promote locally grown foods in cafeterias of K-12 Schools.  Across the nation, schools and farms are making connections that:

• Provide access to fresh, healthy, unprocessed foods for students.
• Increase marketing opportunities for small farms.
• Provide a platform for experiential and holistic nutrition education.
• Improve the quality of vegetables and fruits served in the cafeteria.
• Support the local economy by keeping purchases local.
• Teach young people about farms and the sources of their food.
• Improve school-community relations.

In the fall of 2006, the Institute conducted a statewide study of K-12 Food Service Directors at public and private schools to explore: (1) the level of interest in buying local (Colorado Grown) foods for schools; (2) current food procurement practices and priorities as they relate to potential for local purchasing; (3) opportunities and barriers to local food purchasing.  The survey found:

• School Wellness Policies have encouraged increased offering of fruit and vegetables at breakfast and lunch.
• Food Service Directors indicate that their level of interest in buying local foods is moderate to high, if necessary structures were in place.
• Food Service Directors are generally unaware of opportunities to buy local.
• Several of the top fresh fruit and vegetable purchases made by Food Service Directors are foods that Colorado growers currently produce (apples, carrots, lettuce and others).
• The reasons that many school districts do not currently buy local foods vary; they include lack of information, pricing and availability concerns, lacking staff or facilities (coolers, etc) for fresh food preparation.
• Opportunities to buy local foods from current vendors would make many Food Service Directors more likely to buy them

In the fall of 2007, the Institute conducted a statewide study of Colorado producers to explore: (1) the level of interest in selling local (Colorado Grown) agricultural products to schools; (2) current market channels; (3) past and current participation in Farm to Cafeteria; (4) interest in participating in Farm to Cafeteria; (5) major challenges facing Colorado agriculture; and (6) major barriers to developing local markets such as Farm to Cafeteria. The survey found:

• Only 5% of the Colorado producers surveyed (n=344) have sold directly to schools. Nearly all would like to increase their sales to schools.
• However, 40% of all producers surveyed are interested in selling to Colorado schools.
• One third of the producers currently selling to schools were first contacted by a school employee. One fifth of the producers initiated the partnership.
• Products currently being sold to schools are beans, beef, berries, cabbage, corn, melons, onions, pumpkins, tomatoes, and tree fruits.

For more information about the Institute’s FTC work see:

Local Foods, Local Kids, Around the Oval (January 2007)
FTC school presentation (February 2007)
FTC producer survey presentation (March 2008)

For more information about Farm to School programs across the country see:

The National Farm to School Network, http://www.farmtoschool.org/
The Community Food Security Coalition, http://www.foodsecurity.org/
Cornell University Farm to School Program, http://farmtoschool.cce.cornell.edu/