Last month, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the Growing Farm to
School Programs Act (S.3123), a proposal to authorize $50 million to the
USDA to provide start-up funds to schools across the country, linking
farmers and ranchers to the school lunch program. This bill will improve
the quality of school lunches while also invigorating small- and
medium-sized farms and food systems.  

Leahy says, “Connecting farms and schools makes sense in so many ways,
from economics to nutrition. The school lunch program is a sizable buyer
in every community. There is no need to start from scratch. We have
pent up demand for fresh local food, and ample local supplies. It’s a
natural fit for an untapped market. What we need are the links and
logistics to get the ball rolling. This bill is the catalyst to forge
these connections and let them flourish.”

The bill is co-sponsored by 13 senators, including our own Senator Tom
Harkin. The House companion bill is Rep. Rush Holt's Farm to School
Improvements Act of 2010 (HR 4710). The legislation would provide $10
million in mandatory funding each year for the duration of the program
and require that grant recipients provide a local match to ensure
serious commitment to the project.

Farm to School programs have emerged in communities nationwide over the
past ten years, but their growth has been hampered by the lack of
consistent, federal funding and support. The Farm to School movement
also fits neatly into emerging strategies to counter childhood obesity,
such as Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ campaign.

KIDS WIN

All kids deserve access to nutritious, high quality food. One-third of
US children are obese or overweight, and only 2% of children meet the
Food Guide Pyramid daily serving recommendations. Schools participating
in Farm to School have shown increases in children’s participation in
the school meals program and greater consumption of fruits and
vegetables.

FARMERS WIN

Farm to School supports farming families by increasing market
opportunities for farmers, fishers, ranchers, food processors and food
manufacturers. Farm to School programs can open up the expansive school
food market, estimated at more than $12 billion a year, to local
farmers.

COMMUNITIES WIN

Farm to School strengthens one’s community, creating opportunities to
develop meaningful community relationships between schools, parents and
local farmers. For every dollar spent on local foods in schools, one to
three dollars circulate in the local economy.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Please contact Senator Tom Harkin to thank him for his co-sponsorship of
Sen. Leahy's bill and Congressman Dave Loebsack for his sponsorship of
Rep. Holt's bill. And if you live in another Congressman’s district,
please ask them to support the legislation, too.

Senator Tom Harkin

 
or (202) 224-3254

Congressman Dave Loebsack
 
or (202) 225-6576    

Congressman Bruce Braley  or (202)
225-2911

Congressman Leonard Boswell

 
or
(202 ) 225-3806

Congressman Tom Latham

 
or (202) 225-5476

Congressman Steve King 
  or
(202) 225-4426

Senator Charles Grassley

 
or (202) 224-3744

Monday
on The Fallon Forum we talk with Dr. Charles
Goldman about the new health-care law. We discuss what it means for
Iowa’s health care, and we analyze the politics of the public response
to the new law.

Tuesday, we talk with Mike Denklau, a Democrat running
to take on Steve King for Congress in western Iowa.
 
Wednesday, we ask what the heck's going on with
President Obama when it comes to climate change, specifically his
decisions to authorize off-shore oil drilling and his appointment of
chemical-company lobbyist Islam Siddiqui as Chief Agricultural
Negotiator at the US Trade Office.

Thursday, we talk with Paul Deaton about the signing of
a new arms control treaty in Prague this week.