LEWIS, N.Y. — Schools in the region are proving that serving locally grown and from-scratch food is possible and has wide-reaching benefits. Serving local food can save taxpayers dollars, increase the number of students eating school meals, improve the health and focus of students, and support local farmers.
Regional food service directors have found that some ingredients are actually less expensive when purchased locally, like apples and ground beef, and most other ingredients have a minimal price difference that can be made up with savings elsewhere.
Schools can also take advantage of federal and state incentive programs to supplement their budgets, like the New York State 30% Incentive program that reimburses up to $0.25 per meal served for school districts that spend 30% of their lunch budget on New York State food products.
Ruth Pino, food service director for the Saranac Lake Central School District has been a farm to school champion for over a decade. The Saranac Lake Central School District is the only school in the North Country that has met the qualifications for the NYS 30% Incentive by purchasing local ground beef, beef patties, eggs, apples, potatoes, yogurt and NYS hot dogs.
Pino says, “The meat does cost a little more but the apples, eggs, and potatoes cost less. I really like serving local food to our students. Receiving the 30% does offset the costs of the meats and it feels good to be able to share with our students where the food is raised and who the people are that are ensuring the quality and ethics of the processing of their meals.”
Another school district that has seen success in serving more local food is Plattsburgh City School District. Under the direction of Julie Holbrook, they have shifted from frozen pre-packaged foods to nourishing meals made from scratch with pasture-raised meat, organic eggs and veggies, local grains and dairy products. They have done so by taking advantage of state and federal incentive programs and making budget-conscious changes, like switching to reusable cutlery and dishes.
The students really like the food too: the food service team has served 17% more meals to students this year compared to last. Plattsburgh estimates they will serve an additional 30,000 meals this year compared to last. Watch a video about their new program here at adirondackharvest.com.
Local farmers are also seeing the impacts of schools purchasing more local food. For smaller producers, selling wholesale to local schools is an important source of income after the summer farmers’ market season ends.
Adam Hainer, Owner of Juniper Hill Farm in Westport, NY says for smaller producers, “The school year being from September to June, it really opens up a lot of sales opportunities…by local schools participating in our local food system, every taxpayer in our area is participating in it too.”
CCE Essex Provides Services to Schools
Meghan Dohman leads CCE Essex’s Farm to Institution program working with schools to transition to serving more local ingredients.
Dohman says, “Most schools in our region are dealing with under-staffed cafeterias, shrinking budgets, and pressure to serve kids. My role is to support schools by looking at their food service plan and goals, and helping fit local food into the equation.”
Community members can sign up to receive information about how they can support more local food being served at schools in their community at:Â https://forms.gle/
About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County
The mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is to enable people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work. Essex County Extension staff and trained volunteers deliver educational programs, conduct applied research, and encourage community collaborations through initiatives like the Master Gardener Program, 4-H and Adirondack Harvest. Learn more at essex.cce.cornell.edu.
The Adirondack Harvest program works to increase opportunities for profitable, sustainable production and sale of high-quality food and agricultural products, and expand consumer choices for locally produced healthy food. Its work covers the greater Adirondack region and northeastern New York State. Learn more at adirondackharvest.com.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Harrisburg, Pa. — At the PA Farms to Families Immersion Lab at the PA Farm Show today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced $1.5 million in awards to schools and ag education programs through the PA Farm Bill 2022-23 Farm to School and Agriculture and Youth Grant Programs. Nearly $1 million in Ag and Youth grants […]
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Larry Hogan has designated October 10-14, 2022, as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week. Now in its 15th year, this annual promotion encourages Maryland schools to serve local food in lunches to show students where their food comes from and to introduce them to fresh, nutritious products made right here in Maryland. Maryland […]
ALBANY — New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that sixteen programs have been awarded over $1.48 million in funding through New York’s Farm-to-School program. Awarded programs across New York serve students in kindergarten through grade 12 and operate in both school districts and through not-for-profit partner organizations. Funding provided through the […]
DAVIDSONVILLE, Md. — In preparation for the July primary election, the Maryland Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC) announces its endorsement of candidates for the Maryland General Assembly. Each election, the Maryland Farm Bureau (MDFB) PAC looks at incumbent voting records, reviews candidate questionnaires, and solicits recommendations from county Farm Bureau organizations to determine candidates […]
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Larry Hogan has designated Oct. 4-8, 2021, as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week. In its 14th year, this annual promotion encourages Maryland schools to serve local food in lunches to show students where their food comes from and to introduce them to fresh, nutritious products made right here in Maryland. Maryland […]
