Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm to Institution Challenges amp Opportunities Chris Iberle Farm to School amp Value Chains Specialist WSDA Regional Markets What is farm to institution ID: 772258
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Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm to Institution: Challenges & Opportunities Chris Iberle Farm to School & Value Chains Specialist WSDA Regional Markets
What is farm to institution? K-12 nutrition programsHospital food serviceCorporate cafesCollege/university food serviceCorrectional facilities Childcare centersFood banks
Farm to School is happening all across WA
49% of surveyed school food service say they participate in Farm to School 64% of school districts that have not purchased directly from farms are interested94% of surveyed school districts say they serve WA-grown foods 47 % buy food directly from a farm or farms 92% buy WA-grown foods through a distributor 20% buy local food through a food hub Farm to School Purchasing in WA Sources: USDA Farm to School Census 2015 & WSDA Farm to School Survey 2016
Schools are a market opportunity Sources: USDA Farm to School Census 2015
How schools buy local food Broadline & produce distributors Farm-directUSDA Foods Food hubs & co-ops
School challenges for local purchasing USDA NSLP Meal pattern requirementsBudget & costs per servingStaff capacity for ordering Equipment for scratch cookingStaff capacity for preparationSeasonality & availabilityLack of information about farmsSize & scale of school volumes Food safety & GAP
Current availability of farm products in region How to work with farmers on distribution and delivery Budgeting and food costsFinding farms in the region School needs to grow farm-direct purchasing WSDA Farm to School Survey 2016
Schools need processed products What portion of the food your school district purchases needs to be minimally processed? WSDA Farm to School Survey 2016 Source: WSDA Farm to School Survey 2016
Processing is a barrier to local purchasing
Limited regional scale processing capacity Minimal Produce Processors Region Fresh Cut Frozen Fruit Frozen IQF Frozen Vegetables Dried N. Central WA 3 3 0 1 8 King 4 2 2 1 6 Snohomish 2 2 1 0 0 Pierce 4 0 0 0 1 Whatcom/Skagit 2 14 2 2 4 Spokane/Stevens 2 0 1 1 3 Yakima 31000Thurston/Lewis41011 Source: WSDA Food Processor Permits 2016