Schools has never been Easier! Lyn Kathlene Sophie Oppenheimer - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Selling Fruits & Vegetables to Schools has never been Easier! Lyn Kathlene Sophie Oppenheimer 9/16/2016 1

Sophie Oppenheimer Lyn Kathlene 2

9/16/2016 3

To increase the use of local farm and ranch products in school food service programs to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional agricultural economies Colorado Farm to School Task Force 4

CO FTS Task Force Funders Colorado Farm to School Task Force 5

Agenda • Overview of Farm to School o What is FTS? o The growth of FTS in Colorado o The FTS Marketplace in Colorado • Producer Barriers to FTS • FTS Challenges of Schools • Grant Programs and Resources • Wrap-up and Discussion Colorado Farm to School Task Force 6

Poll #1 Click to edit Master title style How many of you have sold produce to schools? 7

What is Farm to School? 9/16/2016 8

Benefits of Farm to School 9/16/2016 9

Benefits of Farm to School http://www.farmtoschool.org/Resources/BenefitsFactSheet.pdf 9/16/2016 10

The FTS Marketplace in CO 9/16/2016 11

Growth of FTS in Colorado since 2010 http://bit.ly/2cCTATJ 12

Farm to School Marketplace Producer Barriers & Opportunities 9/16/2016 13

Poll #2 Click to edit Master title style What do you perceive as your top 3 challenges for entering the FTS marketplace? 14

Producer Barriers & Opportunities Click to edit Master title style BARRIER OPPORTUNITY • Higher volume offsets lower prices and minimizes the Schools have small proportion of fixed costs budgets and can’t • Schools will buy seconds afford local produce • Stable and predictable market 9/16/2016 15

Producer Barriers & Opportunities Click to edit Master title style BARRIER OPPORTUNITY • Some school districts hold pre-conference bids to train School bid and educate local producers processes are too complicated • Online resources and trainings help navigate the bid process 9/16/2016 16

Producer Barriers & Opportunities Click to edit Master title style BARRIER OPPORTUNITY • Geographic preference Small producers can’t be competitive • Some school districts will pick up produce Transporting • Food hubs (e.g. Northern CO produce to schools is Cooperative bid) not cost-effective • Distributors (e.g. FreshPack, LoCo) 9/16/2016 17

Producer Barriers & Opportunities Click to edit Master title style BARRIER OPPORTUNITY • Summer school meal program School food demand • Spring & fall crops are needed and farm • Root crops extend into the production are out winter of sync • Season extension • On the farm (high tunnels, greenhouses, storage) • Flash freezing & canning 9/16/2016 18

What questions do you have? Please submit in Q&A box 9/16/2016 19

Farm to School Marketplace School Challenges & Solutions 9/16/2016 20

Poll #3 Click to edit Master title style Have you ever been contacted by a school interested in buying produce from you? 21

School Food is Changing • Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 o FTS Grant program at USDA o New Meal Pattern • Scratch cooking • It’s not point & click ordering anymore o How do I find a local farmer? • Local food directories – online and hard copy • Call your local school’s food and nutrition department 9/16/2016 22

School Food Services Regulations • Federal o National School Lunch Program o National School Breakfast Program • State & Local o Food safety – storing, handling, processing, and serving o HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) 9/16/2016 23

Brave New World for School Food Services • On-Farm food safety o Direct procurement o Serving children o Not experts 9/16/2016 24

What questions do you have? Please submit in Q&A box 9/16/2016 25

Colorado Farm to School Task Force Producer Grant Programs 9/16/2016 26

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring 9/16/2016 27

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/colorado-farm-to-school-task-force/ita- workshops/producer-mentoring-program/ 9/16/2016 28

Farm to School Regional Grant Program http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/fts-regional-grant-program/ 9/16/2016 29

Regional Grant Winner: Western Slope Community Partner School Districts Fruit and Vegetable Producers 9/16/2016 30

Example of Producer Expense Request 9/16/2016 31

Colorado Farm to School Task Force FTS Resources for Producers 9/16/2016 32

Colorado Farm to School website http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/producers/getting-started/ Getting Started 9/16/2016 33

Colorado Farm to School website http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/marketing-toolkit/producers/ Marketing Materials 9/16/2016 34

Farm to School Events September 14, 2016 was Colorado Proud School Meal Day http://www.farmtoschool.org/our- work/farm-to-school-month 9/16/2016 35

CSU Resources - Basics of GAPs Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) webinars • Part 1: Food Safety Basics, Regulatory Landscape, 3rd Party Audits, Worker Hygiene Available from: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p97225744/Webinar 1 Slides • Part 2: Minimizing Risks During Production: Irrigation Water and Manure Management Available from: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p26083829/ Webinar 2 Slides • Part 3: Minimizing Risks During Harvest & Post-Harvest: Washing & Packing, Cooling & Storage, Transportation & Traceback Available from: Webinar 3 Slides (http://farmtotable.colostate.edu/docs/GAPsWebinar3.pdf)

CSU Resources - Creating a Food Safety Plan • Fundamentals of Creating a Colorado Farm Food Safety Plan Webinar: Webinar Slides - http://farmtotable.colostate.edu/grow- files/Fundamentals- CreatingFarmFoodSafetyPlan.pdf • Colorado Farm Plan Guide: http://www.farmtotable.colostate.edu/grow- files/ColoradoFoodSafetyPlanGuide.pdf • Colorado Farm Plan Template : http://www.farmtotable.colostate.edu/grow- files/2012-ColoradoFarmPlanFillableForm.pdf

More Food Safety Resources • Food Safety Begins on the Farm: A Grower’s Guide http://bit.ly/2cIODvU • Global GAP: http://www.globalgap.org/uk_en/for- producers/crops/ • Harmonized GAP: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap- ghp/harmonized • CSU Extension food safety web site: www.farmtotable.colostate.edu • Food safety & direct marketing regulations: www.cofarmtomarket.com • CO FTS Task Force producer workshop materials http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/resourcelibrary /

Farm to School Marketplace Wrap Up 9/16/2016 39

Farmer Benefits of Farm to School 1. Expand market opportunity, income potential 2. Sell “surplus” / “seconds” products 3. Diversify market, help manage risk 4. Generate awareness and marketing opportunities for farm and products 5. Increase demand and awareness for local foods 9/16/2016 40

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Resources & Supports Contact us CO FTS TF Website http://coloradofarmtoschool.org/ http://www.farmtoschool.org/ Contact: Lyn@SparkPolicy.com Sophie@SparkPolicy.com 42