Updated May 2008

The NCSL Healthy Community Design Project regularly collects resources of interest to legislators, policymakers and those interested in nutrition access-related issues. We provide the links below for informational purposes only, and they do not necessarily reflect NCSL positions.

"Maryland Joins Effort To Put Local Food In School Cafeterias"

This article from the New York Times discusses how Maryland may become the latest state to create a state-wide farm-to-school program. The program would include creating a system for producers and food service directors to connect, holding an annual promotional weeklong event highlighting local food in classrooms, and increasing experiential learning such as visits to farms and working with food. Numerous other states, including Iowa, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Washington, have created farm-to-school programs through state legislation, with varying goals and systems. One lesson derived from all corners of the country is that, ''The food services in most schools aren't usually prepared to deal with whole foods. They want something that's at least partially prepared and ready to pop in the oven,'' said Janet Bachmann of the Arkansas-based National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. This reality influences every decision made with regards to getting local food into schools, hospitals, and other venues. Significant improvement must be made in the local food infrastructure to provide places for washing, processing, storing, and preparing of fresh food before these programs can become large-scale.

To see examples of farm-to-school legislation, visit the Healthy Community Design Database or email douglas.shinkle@ncsl.org

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