Palo Alto's Organic Lunch Program

[MHMasch at aol.com]

Please pardon cross-postings... Please reply directly to ajoshi at oxy.edu...

Hi all,

Below is the link for an article about Palo Alto USD's Organic Lunch Program 
which I didn't see picked up by any listserv. Like any new initiative, the 
program initiated by a group of Palo Alto parents - the "Healthy School Lunch 
Committee" is facing teething troubles. 

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/local/4332711.htm

For all those involved in farm to school programs, and other initiatives to 
improve school food, there are lessons to be learned. Some of the issues 
faced by Palo Alto are common to other programs - prohibitive pricing of 
healthy option meals, difficulties with procurement and distribution, lack of 
promotion for new menus, lack of kitchen and other infrastructure facilities 
to prepare and serve fresh meals, small volumes not enough to break even, 
lack of supporting programs such as nutrition education, and lack of 
supporting school nutrition policies that promote healthy eating habits among 
children. 

By understanding and anticipating the barriers to implementing farm to school 
/ school food programs, school districts maybe better prepared to handle such 
programs. 

Anupama Joshi
California Farm to School Project Manager
Center for Food and Justice
ajoshi at oxy.edu


   
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