Building a Model Farm to School Program using Community Partnerships

Project Overview

CS11-085
Project Type: Sustainable Community Innovation
Funds awarded in 2011: $10,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2012
Region: Southern
State: Arkansas
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Curt Rom
Email
University of Arkansas

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: extension, youth education
  • Farm Business Management: farm-to-institution
  • Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, partnerships, community services

    Abstract:

    The University of Arkansas and Fayetteville Public Schools proposed to develop a successful Farm to School (F2S) model program in Fayetteville, Arkansas through community partnerships with Apple Seeds Inc., a local non-profit focusing on nutrition education, Feed Fayetteville, a local non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness of and alleviating hunger through local resources, and KUAF, the local NPR radio affiliate. The project identified obstacles to F2S in Northwest Arkansas, identified growers to produce for FPS and delivered nutrition education to FPS students with classroom activities and field trips to the local farmers’ market and a local farm. Community outreach occured through press releases, newspaper stories, a series of stories on KUAF’s Ozarks at Large program, partner newsletters, websites and Facebook sites. In addition, local and state schools were reached through a workshop to extend project outcomes and provide direction on how schools can implement a F2S at their schools.

    Project objectives:

    • 1)Procure locally grown produce for Fayetteville Public Schools
      a.Identify growers interested in producing for Farm to School
      b.Identifying produce items that can be supplied to meet the school's needs and
      c.Assist growers in developing a plan to address production, handling, food safety, delivery and logistical, and economic associated with identified produce.

      2)Deliver a comprehensive nutrition education program with classroom interactions, farmer visits to the classroom and field trips to the farmers' market and a local farm.

      3)Identify and document challenges and solutions associated with establishing a farm to school program in NWA.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.