By Scout Nelson
In western Kansas, there’s an abundance of corn and cattle, but finding fresh produce like tomatoes, apples, and squash can be difficult. This lack of access to nutritious foods affects local communities, including schools, which struggle to provide healthy meals to students. To address this, the Kansas Department of Education is working to connect schools with local farms through the Farm to School program.
Recently, nutrition directors from several Kansas school districts toured local farms to explore options for sourcing fresh, local food. However, as the state’s Farm to Plate coordinator explained, it can be challenging to find food for humans rather than livestock in this part of Kansas, where commodity crops like soybeans, wheat, and corn dominate.
The Farm to School program, established after the 2008 farm bill, aims to provide grants and resources to help schools access locally grown agricultural products. The program also offers gardening education to students, benefiting both their health and the local economy.
While many rural schools rely on beef, dairy, and tortillas sourced locally, there’s still a significant need for vegetables and fruit, particularly in southwest Kansas. The tour provided an opportunity for school leaders to learn about local produce farms and discuss ways to incorporate fresh, locally grown food into their meal programs.
Despite the challenges, local farms have been working hard to meet the demand. However, as some growers noted, the lack of crop insurance for specialty produce and labor-intensive farming methods limit the number of farms able to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Experts say that for the Farm to School program to thrive in rural Kansas, more produce growers are needed. Nevertheless, the connections being made between farmers and schools are a positive step toward increasing access to nutritious, local foods for students.
Photo Credit:istock-elenathewise
Categories: Kansas, General