From Harford County Public Schools:
The kick-off event for the Third Annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week (Sept. 13-17, 2010) will be held Friday, September 10, 2010, at Edgewood Elementary School. Edgewood Elementary School is the only school in the state to host this very special honor this year! There will be three components to the event: a short formal program, classroom visits and activities by local farmers and special guests, and lunch featuring locally-grown produce. This week-long education and awareness activity is part of the Jane Lawton Farm to School program.
The program was created during the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly when SB 158 Farm-to-School Program – Activities and Promotional Events, sponsored by Senator Jamie Raskin and Del. Sheila Hixson, was signed into law by Governor O’Malley in May 2008. The program is designed to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, the benefits of a healthy diet, as well as to expand markets for Maryland farmers. The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland State Department of Education, along with many partners, help coordinate events each year. For details, visit www.marylandfarmtoschool.org.
When: Friday, September 10, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Where: Edgewood Elementary School
2100 Cedar Drive
Edgewood, MD 21040
What: Third Annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week Kick-Off Event
Kim Misch says
I’m curious when the Maryland Homegrown School Lunch program will be coming to a non-title 1 school. I’d love for my kids to learn about farming. More importantly, all Harford County Kids’ lunches would be much more nutritious with the fresh fruits and vegetables included in this government-run, government-funded program.
Dave says
Kim, if your kids go to a Harford County public school, it already is. HCPS has been working with Harford farms to buy more and more locally-grown produce, and they intend to increase the volume that they purchase in the future. It’s currently in every school. The thing at Edgewood just looks to be an event to highlight the statewide program, but Harford County has been doing it for a while.
Chris says
Kim:
Sounds like Mary L answered your question pretty well. why don’t you call Mr Jones and ask him where and how much he delivers to your child’s school. Sounds like you may be misinformed. Solve it once and for all. Not sure if the board of ed read this blog…i am sure you can call them as well. Stop complaining and ask the correct folks that may have a clue vs relying on this forum to provide such negative views and commentary!
Kim says
My Dear Chris, when were you promoted to free speech czar? As I’ve stated clearly already, my information is coming from the articles in this electronic publication. If you have reason to doubt the authenticity of The Dagger’s reporting please make one and all aware. I don’t need to call or write anyone at HCPS regarding their food. I know first hand what is served. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF MY COMMENTS. Why are you so angry? It sounds to me like YOU need some locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables to fix what ails you. I love Harford County’s farming community. I greatly appreciate the bounty of their harvest. HCPS does an adequate job educating the youth of our community. My husband works 7 days a week. I’m sick of our tax money being spent on politically frivolous programs, end of story. If I were a betting person, I’d say you really dig big, big government programs. Why is it so difficult for you to read the above article and the other article referencing this subject? Once again, my original comment(s) were not about the quality of the food that HCPS serves. It’s about tax payer money being selectively used for certain schools. Got it this time?
Chris says
My “not so” dearest Kim…first of all the first amendment gives me the right to voice my opinion here and anywhere else. It also allows ignorant folks like you to spout off about programs not being in your kids schools without even researching the facts further that this site.
Lets address your original comments: 1st you questioned when the homegrown program would be provided to schools that were not Title I:
Fact: Research outside this site states the last year the school system purchased at least 70% of produce needs from local sources during the season. I imagine that “iceberg lettuce, oranges, bananas are among the 30% not purchased locally. Hard to believe that your school is not getting these products. I read the menus and do remember such notes on the menu. I have not seen or expect to see that info in the winter months or when products or not available such as your “tomatoes”. Hard to offer a lot more that that when school starts in the fall. Last I knew that is when crops begin dying off.
Referenced: http://www.mda.state.md.us/mdfarmtoschool/index.php
2nd point was the fact you wish that you wanted your kids to learn more about farming. When was the last time you visited a farm? Stop relying on the school system to teach your kids everything. (talk about big government waste…i agree with you there) Get out there and show the support you supposedly have for the local farmer by visiting and asking questions.
3rd point was that you thought every school could benefit from this program! Again i say …read! You may learn something about what is truly being offered in every Harford County school. Oh…when was the last time you served 3 or 4 different fruits, juices or vegetables at breakfast, lunch or dinner for that matter?
It looks like several folks have chimed in about you being INCORRECT so give it up! “Dead Horse”
Kim Misch says
That’s news to me Dave. I’ve seen the lunches at my kids schools. They’re fine as far as institutional food goes. There were no locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables presented. I read an article in the Dagger last year discussing the grant money for this program and it was to be allocated to Title 1 schools.
Mary L says
Kim:
Not sure what school your kids go to. My 3 kids are not in a title one school and they tell me they are doing do a great job with the food and it is far from institutional. My kids are in both middle school and elementary and they tell me fresh fruit is always available for breakfast and lunch. They buy 3-4 times per week. Far from the what they experienced in both Baltimore and Carroll counties where we once lived. I bought mostly red apples and oranges in the past. The kids are asking for peaches and green apples since they get it at school and like them. Tossed salad every day! What more can a mother ask for than a that much being offered daily. I have no complaints. Didn’t the kitchens win some kind of award last year?
Kim Misch says
Mary, the term institutional refers to a significant organization within a culture, i.e. public school. If you need further clarification reference a dictionary. The tossed salads at my kids schools come from a big, big bag purchased from Sysco, an institutional food distributor. I’m not aware of local farmers growing Iceberg Lettuce. Nor have I seen any orange groves. I never once criticized the public school lunches. The article that I referred to from the Dagger stated that the grant money was to go to Title 1 schools. My children eat breakfast at home so I don’t know what the schools serve, although I have seen the menus and locally grown fruit/produce hasn’t been mentioned. There has been no mention, at my kids schools, of any specific programs or ceremonies as related to our local farmers. Again, the funding for these has been directed to Title 1 schools. It sounds like your kids are lucky to have gotten away from the icky food being served in Baltimore and Carroll counties.
Kim Misch says
It’s really pretty typical of our new and improved redistribution of wealth scheme. We pay a hefty, hefty property tax bill with a large portion dedicated to our local schools. As I already stated, our schools have not been included in any local farming programs, tough luck for us, huh.
Sarah says
Ma’am, I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but you seem to be getting worked-up for no reason. Harford County Public Schools purchases locally-grown produce that is distributed to all schools. Not only Title 1 schools. If you don’t believe me, all you have to do is call the Board of Ed and ask them.
Are all of the fruits and vegetables in schools local? No. It depends on seasonality and availability. Of course the oranges aren’t local, but the tomatoes probably are during tomato season.
Just because there wasn’t a “ceremony” at your children’s school doesn’t mean the school isn’t serving local produce.
Kim says
Tomatoes are grown in the summer in this area. I suppose if you must attend summer school then you might get a locally grown fruit. Even that may be a stretch since some varieties don’t ripen until mid to late summer. I guess my poor kids are the only students missing out on all that locally grown produce.
Kim says
It’s also kinda funny how my original statements have been distorted. Plus, how some of the facts have been left out or ignored when responding to my comments, that’s okay though, the truth and the facts always win out.
Mary L says
Last night I saw Maurice Jones from Jones farm on TV and he said he delivers to the schools. if you are so concerned that schools are not using local produce, call him! I am sure that he can tell you how much local produce he supplies to the schools. I am particularly pleased that the schools serve fresh fruits and veggies to the kids. Although i support the actions to promote locally grown…i really do not care where they are getting it from as long as they are being available to the kids. The costs to provide these items must be huge. Shop Rite was charging almost $1 per peach and .75 an apple! Better question should be…how do schools afford to offer produce to all kids.
Sarah says
It is actually cheaper for the school system to buy from local farms because they will not add on charges for delivery, whereas delivery and handling charges are built-in to the costs charged by a distributor.
But there again, all you have to do is call the school system and they will tell you where the food is coming from, what schools are getting it, and how much it is costing them.
Kim says
Read the “See Also” Dagger article about Title 1 schools receiving federal money. Bottom line, I do not now nor have I ever relied on any institutional setting, any other private household, absolutely no other person to make sure my family is getting fresh fruits and vegetables. I believe that the HCPS food program does a good job with the resources they have. This has nothing to do with the main point of my comment. As usual, folks with an agenda misconstrue and attempt to alter the commentary of others. The Dagger articles are clear and concise and back up my statements. It is my responsibility and mine alone, to ensure that my kids eat fresh fruits and vegetables. I don’t rely on school lunches for my kids nutrition. The vast majority of taxpayer money that public schools receive should be used to educate our children to the highest possible standards. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. That’s why I send my kids to school, not for lunch.
an observation says
A lot of conjecture here but I suggest the simple solution would be for HCPS to state what percentage of school lunches is produced by local farmers on a daily basis. I suspect it is very little. Another piece of information that would be nice to know but difficult if not impossible to find would be how much of the local produce is actually eaten by the students and how much ends up in the trash can. The answer to that question would tell us how efficient and cost effect this program really is. The devil is in the details, which most do not have the time to research or want to know.
Kim says
A breath of fresh air! My personal belief, I DON’T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT, just an observation, plus having personally spoken with the cafeteria ladies many times, is there are so many health regulations, so many time constraints, so little storage space, etc., etc., huge amounts federal and state regulations that it would be virtually impossible to freeze, store, then prepare fresh, locally grown stuff. The logistics, the chronology of the growing seasons, rules, don’t make for ease. I agree, one could make calls and hopefully get the truth. Again, my point was more directed at the tax monies, not what HCPS is serving for lunch. I know what their serving. I see it and hear about it every day.
Kim says
Chris, the art of conversing, debating, and/or argumentation is to STAY ON POINT! Those involved must understand what it is they are discussing. There should not be any name calling or personal threats. When I initially commented on this article I never imagined the vitriolic language that ensued. Thankfully, you don’t know where I go, who I see, what business’s I frequent, WHAT FARMS I VISIT WEEKLY TO BUY THEIR LOCAL PRODUCE. IF I LIVE ON A FARM. IF I’M A FARMER, etc., etc.. Honest discussion and dissent is based on fact, not make-believe or aggression. I’ll let you have the last words Chris…..make them coherent and to the original point of my comment, not insultive.