Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Healthy Kids Conference 11-5-03Jim Mansfield, Director
Division of Horticulture & Aquaculture
KY Farm-to-School Program
To provide high quality fresh local food to KY public institutions at a fair price while at the same time providing
sales and income opportunities for KY farms.
MISSION STATEMENT
Farm Sales Potential
1665 Schools in KY (2001)Approximately 82,275,000
meals served annuallyCreates marketing
opportunities for produce, dairy products and meat from KY family farms
Kentucky’s Unique Situation
89,000 Farms, mostly small 3.1 Billion Dollars in Agriculture Sales (2002)Approx. 33% Crop & 66% LivestockTobacco up to 1 Billion in Sales (1998)50% Cut in Quota Tobacco:
– High Value per Acre– Not Perishable– Price and Sales are Guaranteed
Produce Marketing
Four key points needed to establish a viable wholesale market – Quality– Volume– Service– Price
West Kentucky Growers CooperativeGreen River Produce Marketing Cooperative
Cumberland Farm Products, Inc.Central Kentucky Growers’ Association
Central Kentucky Growers’ Association
2190 Cincinnati PikeGeorgetown, KY 40324502-863-0002
Cumberland Farm Products469 East Highway 90 By-passMonticello, KY 42633606-348-8405
West Kentucky Growers Co-op806 KY 279 NorthOwensboro, KY 42301270-764-2667
Green River Produce Marketing Association
PO Box 71Horse Cave, KY 42749270-786-4323
Areas serviced by Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable marketing cooperatives
Farm to School - History
Idea took root in May 2000 A joint interest and effort by USDA, KDA,
UK Extension and KY Dept. of EducationPilot program in 2000 - regions 4 & 8Sales of cabbage, broccoli and fall
decorative items (mini pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn)
Farm to School - History
2001& 2002 state-wide program 98 Schools participatedKDA Marketing coordinated crop offerings
and delivery schedulesKDA Food Distribution coordinated
distribution and school produce orders DOD coordinated bid process, quality control
and payments to growers
Farm-to-School Menu 2002
Seedless WatermelonsYukon Gold PotatoesFall Décor KitRed CabbageGreen CabbageBroccoli
Advantages of Kentucky FTS
Allows schools an opportunity to support local agriculture and purchase fresh products
Offers a “teachable moment” about food Provides an additional market for KY farmsState-wide distribution of productsPrices are competitive with national marketsQuality controlMultiple products supplied by multiple growers
Challenges
Most KY produce = June, July & August2000 thru 2002 MO was cumbersome Schools have limited produce preparation
abilitiesTracking KY products - is this working and
are we getting what we asked for?New crops and or new time frames are needed Program loyalty- patience please!
The Future
Work mainly through the DOD vendorsEncourage early and late KY produce
cropsDevelop fresh-cut and processing
opportunitiesLook for ways to link individual farms
with local schools
HAPPY CUSTOMERS !!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Daviess County Schools
Ms. Lisa SimsFood Service Director
Daviess County Schoolsutilize Farm to School Program
Support local farmers
Fresh, quality products
Efficient way to use Commodity Dollars
Farm to School Purchases for 2002-2003
Seedless Watermelons –290 melons, $2297
Green Cabbage- 40/25lb, $233Broccoli – 60 bushels, $856Fall Décor Kit- 30 kits, $300Red CabbageYukon Gold Potatoes
DCPS Farm to School Products for 2003-2004
Request KY Grown on Fax Cover Sheets when requesting produce orders from the Department of Defense.
This year Watermelons have been ordered
DOD Produce
Encourages schools to offer more fresh fruit and vegetable choices
Cuts out the middle man of receiving fresh items through commodity program
More Salad!
For healthier choices
To help meet nutrient requirements
Justify Salad Bars for teachers