News on Education

Fresno FSA’s Farm-to-School Committee Members Feautred on NPR Valley Public Radio

April 2013 FFSA Farm-to-School Committee members, Pao Saephan and Jose Alvarado, were featured on NPR Valley Public Radio on April, 2nd.

Jesse Cool at the San Mateo FSA’s 2nd Annual School/Afterschool Garden Ceremony on 4/27

Join the SMFSA, Get Healthy San Mateo County, and featured guest speaker Jesse Cool at the 2nd Annual School/Afterschool Garden Ceremony on Saturday 4/27.

San Mateo FSA hosts a school garden awards ceremony with Margo True from Sunset Magazine

The Alliance hosted the first School Garden Award Ceremony on 4/28, celebrating and recognizing school garden educators and students throughout the county.

2012 Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA) Progress Report

Dec. 2012 Ventura AFA has released a report on the Ag Summit and the work the Alliance has done since this incredible event.

San Mateo Food System Alliance Accomplishments in 2011

• SMFSA has three committees: Farm to Institution, Land Use, and the newly formed Policy Committee
• San Mateo participated in the National Food Day event and focused on highlighting fish-friendly farming practices, as well as a panel with various stakeholders discussing Alliance initiatives.
• The San Mateo Alliance was recognized by the County Board of Supervisors and they formally endorsed the efforts of the Alliance to improve access to locally, sustainably produced, and healthy food in San Mateo County.
• The San Mateo Food System Alliance (SMFSA) began a Farm-to-School pilot with two school districts.
• The Farm-to-Institution Committee hosted a seminar in March for educators, youth and parents who want to increase their consumption of locally grown produce.
• The Alliance has translated their goals into a policy brief for local cities on inclusion of policies favorable to local production agriculture, and will be distributed to local officials in the coming months.
• Received primary funding for a feasibility study for local aggregation and distribution on coast-side produce to bay-side urban residents and institutions.

Panel Discussions Focus on Local Consumption

Jan. 2012. The year-long Farm to Fork series came to a successful conclusion on January 25 and 26 with panel discussions at the Santa Maria and Santa Barbara public libraries. This fourth installment of Farm to Fork series, entitled Closing the Loop, focused on the role of consumers in supporting local farmers, ranchers and other producers. Panelists included Gerri French, Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator at Sansum Medical Clinic; Melissa Gomez, Manager at Goodland Kitchen; Jaime Herrera, Executive Chef at UCSB Dining Commons; Liz Powell, Director of Food Services at Santa Maria Bonita School District; and Clark Staub, Owner at Full of Life Flatbread.

Bus Tour Success

Sept. 2011 The Santa Barbara Ag Futures Alliance (SBAFA) has now completed parts 1-3 of the four-part Farm to Fork series aimed at raising awareness countywide about local agricultural resources. SBAFA’s latest excursion took them to Betteravia Farms’ large cooling and storage warehouse, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Los Adobes de Maria farmworker housing complex, and one of the nation’s largest greenhouse operations, Windset Farms, all in the city of Santa Maria. Over 30 participants attended the September bus tour, including a staff member for Congresswoman Lois Capps and two representatives of the local County Board of Supervisors. All participants walked away with a broader understanding of some of the farming and farm related practices taking place in their own backyards. A photo slide show of the event can be seen on Facebook.

Farm Forum Praises Sonoma County FSA

Sept. 2011 Sonoma’s 3rd Farm Forum featured more than a dozen speakers on various aspects of the food system. Praises were sung for the Sonoma County Food System Alliance among other efforts within the county. Click to read the Press Democrat article (pdf).

Sonoma FSA Presents Food Forum Report to BOS

Aug. 2011 The Sonoma County Food System Alliance presented their Food Forum report to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on August 9.

School Food Service Survey Reports Interest in Local Produce

Aug. 2011 The Farm-to-Institution Committee of the Sonoma County FSA released the School Food Service Produce report on August 8. The document reports the results of a survey of Sonoma County school food service leaders, and indicates that 84% of schools are interested in purchasing local produce directly from a grower or from their distributor. While cost was cited as the biggest barrier to purchasing local produce for school lunches, there is enthusiasm among both food service departments and their parent/student population for seasonal fruits and veggies on the menu. Download the report for more details.

Sonoma County FSA Releases the Community Food System Assessment

July 2011 As eaters, we all have a stake in the health of our food system. A new report from the Sonoma County FSA points out that the many other reasons to care about what’s happening in this area of our community.