Cornell Cooperative Extension has developed a Farm to School (F2S) Program Work Team (PWT). The PWT has 158 members, representing an array of farm-to-school stakeholders from CCE, local farms, not-for-profits, public schools, and other entities. Members are using the listserv to ask and answer questions and share resources regularly. The group also has a public-facing website that includes farm-to-school resources, a map to find F2S coordinators by county, Harvest NY’s NYS Foods Database for the NYS 30% Initiative, and other useful resources and links.
Examples of connected CCE project activities include:
In 2023 Buffalo Public School District (BPS) received a $2M NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) NY Food for NY Families grant. As a community anchor serving up to 28,000 students per day, BPS recognized the opportunity to connect families in Buffalo, who are majority low-income, with foods grown, raised, and produced in NY State. The grant will be administered over 13 months, during which approximately 2,500 farm shares will be made available at 35 community sites. CCE Regional Farm to School Coordinator Program Lead Cheryl Bilinski and WNY Farm to School Coordinator Becky O'Connor play the integral role of supporting the overall grant and making connections with local producers.
The NYS 30% Initiative has been in existence since 2018 when state legislation put it into place. From the inception of the program, it has been seen that the regions that have had the most success with the program as a whole have had the support of a Harvest NY farm-to-school coordinator. Year over year the program has grown to include additional school districts and regions of NYS with a very significant growth seen this past year. The Hudson Valley and the Long Island region are the two newest areas of the state to have success with the program.
Harvest NY was appointed by NYSED to provide technical assistance for the implementation and spending of LFS (Local Food Systems) funds by SFAs (School Food Authorities) across New York State. They conducted informational webinars, assisted in completing LFS applications, and identified local, small, and historically disadvantaged producers to receive funding. Additionally, Harvest NY developed a NY Foods Database to streamline producer identification for school food buyers. Site visits were conducted to growers and processors to identify products suitable for schools, resulting in supply chain development. The Harvest NY farm-to-school coordinator in NYC played a key role in the DOE's LFS application and product identification, successfully submitting products for inclusion in the DOE's food distribution contract.
Results
Multiple audiences benefit from farm to school programs. The F2S PWT membership benefits by a richer understanding of how to work with and through school districts to make connections and move initiatives forward. This PWT has strong leadership and expertise which lends to system capacity. The beneficiaries of staff capacity building are the students, farmers, and school service providers.
These initiatives provide students with access to fresh, locally sourced foods, which can improve their overall nutrition and health. By incorporating locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other farm products into school meals, students are exposed to a diverse range of nutritious foods and flavors. This can contribute to better academic performance, behavior, and overall well-being. Additionally, farm to school programs o en include educational components, such as garden-based learning or nutrition education, which can help students develop lifelong healthy eating habits.
Farm to school initiatives create new market opportunities for local farmers and producers. By selling their products to schools, farmers can expand their customer base, increase their revenue, and strengthen their businesses. This direct market access provides farmers with a stable and reliable source of income, helping to support local agriculture and preserve farmland. Additionally, farm to school partnerships may incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and diversify their crops to meet the needs of schools. F2S leadership within CCE has helped schools and producers understand the process, requirements, and benchmarks for success.
As a statewide team the regional farm to school coordinators provide technical assistance to our school food partners who are working towards their 30% goals. The technical assistance can be seen in many different forms depending on the needs of the individual school district. From procurement assistance and sourcing products, managing NY foods databases that are utilized in identifying products for purchase, tracking products, recipe and menu suggestions, local food taste testing, NY Thursdays and Harvest of The Month planning, bid development, marketing their farm to school program, identifying funding sources hosting and providing trainings, and 30% application assistance.
The team works collectively to bolster success in the whole of NYS. The program this past year saw a 27% increase in the dollars spent on NYS food products at approximately $8.06 Million. The Harvest NY regional team directly supported schools who collectively purchased 3.9 million of the total 8.6 million. The increase in spending is directly related to the 13 newly qualified school districts. Notably in two regions of the state that have historically not been eligible in the past. The Hudson Valley with 4 school districts qualifying, one of which Livingston Manner SD achieved this success without the purchase of NYS milk which in the past was a necessary component.
As well as the first school district on Long Island Copiague SD. Northern New York also saw an increase of districts that qualified this year with 6 school districts. Western New York has been a pioneer in this work across that state and with Buffalo City School District qualifying this past year they have 5 consecutive years of success. Applicants have increased from 55 last year to 62 as well as an increase in approval rates by 15.68%. We anticipate the program to continue to grow and include additional school districts in all regions of the state.
Farm to school programs can also enhance the quality, variety, and appeal of school meals. By sourcing fresh, locally grown ingredients, food service providers can offer meals that are not only nutritious but also flavorful and appealing to students. This may lead to increased meal participation and revenue for school food programs. Additionally, farm to school initiatives can help food service providers meet federal nutrition standards, support community health and wellness goals, and foster positive relationships with local farmers and suppliers.
Public Value Statement
When CCE staff are knowledgeable about how to implement farm-to-school programs locally, more students, school districts, and farmers benefit by the more proficient application of programs, more local foods put to use, and hunger needs met. Farm to school initiatives strengthen connections between schools, farmers, and communities.
By supporting local agriculture and food systems, these programs promote economic development, job creation, and community resilience. They also raise awareness about the importance of local food production, environmental sustainability, and food security. Through farm to school activities such as farm visits, farmers markets, and community gardens, communities can engage in hands-on learning experiences and celebrate local food culture. Overall, farm to school initiatives contribute to vibrant, healthy, and sustainable communities.
