Local farms provide nutritious food for schools

By Scout Nelson

Deep in western Kansas, there is a rich supply of corn and cattle, but fresh produce like tomatoes, apples, and squash is scarce. This lack of nutritious foods affects residents, leaving many without convenient access despite being surrounded by farms.

Schools are particularly impacted, which is why the Kansas Department of Education is working to connect school districts with local farms.

Recently, a busload of nutrition directors from various school districts toured farms in western Kansas to explore options for sourcing local food. Eryn Davis, the Farm to Plate program coordinator, noted that finding food for human consumption, rather than livestock, is challenging in this area. “From my research, it was limited to what I could find in western Kansas,” she said.

Although rural Kansas has direct access to agriculture, most farms grow commodity crops like soybeans, wheat, and corn, limiting the availability of fresh produce. The 2008 farm bill encouraged institutions operating child nutrition programs to purchase unprocessed locally grown foods, aiming to enhance the health of rural children while supporting local farmers. This led to the establishment of the Farm to School program in Kansas.

Locally sourced food offers more nutrient-dense options and economic benefits. “It’s supporting the economy of our Kansas communities that we have here,” Davis explained.

Most school districts rely on trucking in food from eastern Kansas, with beef, dairy, and tortillas being the main locally sourced items. However, the demand for vegetables and fruits in southwest Kansas is significant.

During the tour, participants visited Diamond W Farm and Ranch, a family-owned poultry farm that specializes in egg production. Owner Samantha Williams shared her journey from starting with 15 chicks to managing up to 500 chickens.

The tour continued to Prairie Wind Produce, the only produce farm in Garden City, where Steven Michel passionately discussed the importance of fresh produce. However, he noted the limitations in local food availability, saying, “We are the only ones that grow more than two or three vegetables in at least a 60-mile radius.”

For the Farm to School program to succeed in western Kansas, experts stress the need for more produce growers. Factors such as a lack of horticulture expertise and inadequate crop insurance for specialty crops hinder growth.

Despite these challenges, Davis remains optimistic that these farm tours will help create connections between farmers and schools, providing fresh produce to children and supporting local agriculture. “It's a good way to bring nutritious local foods to the community,” she said.

Photo Credit:kansas-department-of-agriculture