Washblog

Matt's response was that perhaps the most promising specific policy change -- in terms of being both achievable and effective -- would be greater support for institutional purchases of local farm-produced food.  Currently, the market for food to institutional cafeterias -- such as schools, hospitals, jails, and nursing homes -- is dominated by big food companies, which are able to produce very predictable portions and amounts of food in ways that minimize  preparation costs.  "The most commonly-used utensil in the public school kitches," Matt said, "is the box cutter." In other words (as I interpret it), the food our children are eating is processed on an industrial scale -- and often the only community preparation involved is a transfer from box to plate.  A larger presence of community-supported agriculture in our schools would benefit both local agriculture and our children  -- as well as cut down on fossil fuel use.

There is currently a Farm to Cafeteria program in Washington state.  Full Circle Farm is a leading participant.  However, in order to create a larger market for farm-to-cafeteria food, additional strategy is called for.

A powerful way to support the presence of local agriculture in our schools, Matt suggested, would be  triangulation -- creating market synergies by finding other resources and needs to add to the mix.  For example, we could explore partnering with an organization such as Fare Start.

Fare Start is a national organization that has a strong presence here in Washington State.  It utilizes the labor of people in disadvantaged situations to prepare food at lower than market cost.  At the same time, it provides culinary arts training to the people who prepare the food to enable them to better their life situations.

Public support for a collaboration between local farms, Fare Start or a similar program, and institutional cafeterias, would take us full circle, so to speak, in helping to support local agriculture.  It would also keep more dollars circulating locally in our economy (see Sustainable Seattle's local food economy study), reduce the use of petroleum fuels, improve the quality of food our children eat, and provide job training for adults who need it.  Sounds good to me.