A B R I E F H I S T O R Y O F S C H O O L F O O D W H Y I S S O M E F O O D C H E A P?

Transcription

1 A B R I E F H I S T O R Y O F S C H O O L F O O D W H Y I S S O M E F O O D C H E A P?

2 1930s The Great Depression + Dust Bowl = severe problems for a large number of small family farms in the U.S. Many farmers lose their land because they can t grow enough to support their families. More and more farming families begin moving from rural areas into cities. The USDA Commodity Food program is created to help farmers by stabilizing the prices of their crops. The government agrees to buy surplus crops at a set price as long as farmers can supply abundant and affordable food. This is the beginning of the agricultural subsidies farmers receive to this day for commodity crops like corn, wheat, and soy.

3 1940s After WWII, The National School Lunch Act was signed by President Truman. The government recognized a need to address malnutrition in children so that they would be healthy enough for military service as adults. USDA Commodities program uses surplus crops to supplement school lunch programs to address malnutrition and hunger among poor families.

4 Shift in Agricultural Subsidies The United States currently pays around $20 Billion per year to farmers in direct subsidies. The beneficiaries of the subsidies have changes as agriculture in the US has changed: 1930s > 25% of the population resided on 6 Million family farms. By 1997 > 2% of the population resides on less than 200,000 farms. Most are large agribusinesses owned by corporations, instead of farmers.

5 Meanwhile, Rates of Obesity are Rising ( ) N a t i o n a l s t a t i s t i c s s h o w, 1 7 % o f c h i l d r e n a g e d a r e o b e s e. 8 0 % o f o b e s e c h i l d r e n a g e d w e r e o b e s e a d u l t s a t a g e 2 5.

6 Here in Oakland, Place Matters Compared to a White child in the affluent Oakland Hills, an African American born in West Oakland is 1.5 times more likely to be born premature or low birth weight 7 times more likely to be born into poverty INFANT 2.5 times more likely to be behind in vaccinations 4 times less likely to read at grade level CHILD 5 times more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes 2 times more likely to die of heart disease ADULT Cumulative impact: 15 year difference in life expectancy

7 W h a t d o e s t h i s h a v e t o d o w i t h s c h o o l f o o d?

8 T o d a y, s c h o o l f o o d i s Tackling hunger and obesity at the same time Competing with unhealthy popular food options available outside of school Striving to meet required nutrition standards and student preferences Working within a tight budget to provide nutritious, affordable meals for thousands of students every day

9 R e m e m b e r U S D A s C o m m o d i t y F o o d P r o g r a m? USDA Commodities program: the government agrees to buy surplus crops at a set price to stabilize market price; surplus crops are used to supplement school lunch programs. (1930s) (1940s) Surplus nitrogen from World War II is used to make fertilizers and pesticides to increase yields with fewer farmers in the fields. Higher yields = more surplus in the USDA Commodities program = commodity crops become the backbone of the National School Lunch Program

10 W h a t i s n o t s u b s i d i z e d u n d e r t h e f a r m b i l l??

11 Shift in school food culture (1960s) School meals began to shift from home-cooked foods to processed foods as students began to ask for the fast-food-style options that they ate at home. (1960s) The Nixon Administration expands access to free lunches for all poor children, establishing national eligibility standards for free and reduced priced meals.

12 Why are students asking for fast food instead of home-cooked meals?

13 Shift in popular food culture 1940s, the first McDonalds restaurant opens sparking the birth of fast food.

14 Shift in popular food culture (1950s) C.A. Swanson & Sons introduces the first frozen TV dinner and popularity for these convenience foods grows rapidly.

15 Shift in popular food culture (1950s)The first at-home appliance microwave is introduced around the same time high fructose corn syrup becomes a popular sweetener.

16 Shift in popular food culture By 2000, Americans spend about $134 billion dollars per year on fast food, more than they spend on college education, computers, software or new cars. >

17 W h a t i s O U S D d o i n g t o a d d r e s s t h e s e c h a l l e n g e s?

18 F a r m t o S c h o o l i n O a k l a n d 50-80% of our produce is sourced within a 250 mile radius of Oakland. 20 After school produce markets selling mainly local and organic produce at low income schools. Harvest of the Month and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs in 30 elementary schools. California Thursdays program expanding Farm to School to include local proteins and grains.

19 R e m e m b e r t h a t t i g h t b u d g e t?

20 W h a t a b o u t t h e H e a l t h y H u n g e r F r e e K i d s A c t ( H H F A )? New legislation, enacted in 2012, provides an additional 6 cents per meal federal reimbursement to districts and improves the nutritional standards for schools. The most significant piece of the legislations is a mandate that every child take a ½ cup serving of fruits or vegetables at every meal.

21 H H F K i n O a k l a n d = $250,000 additional revenue = $500,000 increased cost year over year = net loss of $250,000 each year. Is this sustainable??

22 C A L I F O R N I A T H U R S D A Y S

23 H E A L T H Y R E C I P E D E V E L O P M E N T Here s how that $1.15 per meal budget breaks down: Fruit or Vegetable - $0.20 Entrée - $0.60-$0.70 Milk - $0.25

24 W H O L E W H E A T P E N N E W I T H C H O R I Z O A N D K A L E Chicken Broth: $0.09 Tomatoes (organic, Muir Glen, San Joaquin Valley, CA): $0.11 Penne Pasta: $0.11 Queso Fresco: $0.10 Kale (organic, Capay Organics, Capay, CA): $0.30 Chorizo (Silva Sausage, San Jose, CA): $0.19 TOTAL = $0.90

25 W H A T C O S T S T H E M O S T?

26 W H Y D O E S T H I S M A T T E R?