Johnson County schools now have a complete list of local food suppliers they are encouraged to buy from as part of a statewide effort to help farmers and provide healthier, more organic foods to students.
The guide, which is the first statewide resource detailing local food growers in each county, was put together by Indiana Grown, a state initiative that promotes food grown in Indiana, and the Indiana State Department of Health in partnership with Purdue Extension, according to a news release from Indiana Grown.
The Indiana Grown for Schools buyer’s guide was unveiled Thursday at Franklin Community High School. Lindsey Bouza of the Indiana State Department of Health spoke about the importance of the guide for schools around the state.
“Farm-to-school is important because everybody wins: kids, farmers and the community,” Bouza said. “There is more money in local economies when we encourage schools to purchase from farmers, and the buyer’s guide document is well done in terms of the design being appealing to the eye. It includes farm-to-school success stories, seasonal ingredients with recipes and information on procurement and harvest grants. It’s a labor of love, and we’re excited to unveil the document.”
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The buyer’s guide, which took about a year to compile, will strengthen the state’s economy as less money will leave the state, Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch said during a press conference at the school Thursday.
“With Indiana Grown for Schools, students across the entire state will have increased access to fresh, healthy, local foods and gain educational experiences linked to the farming community,” Crouch said. “This experience unlocks a new market for the farming community and unlocks the potential for new jobs, enriches the local community and empowers children, families and schools to make more informed choices.”
Schools having information about local farmers is beneficial for both school districts and food growers, said Heather Tallman, Indiana Grown Program Director.
“Farmers do not have the time to go to schools to show buyers what they grow, and buyers do not have time for farmers to come see them every day. This guide is important in bridging the gap and creating conversations between buyers and farmers,” Tallman said.
“The buyers wanted this. They’re excited to see it and feel it will enhance what they can offer students. Farmers will feel economic development from this.”
Franklin Community High School is well-versed in local food production, as students started growing tomatoes on a farm near the school earlier this year.
The school cafeteria has used those tomatoes and herbs in the first months of the farm-to-food SHOULD THIS BE TABLE? FARM-TO-TABLE? program that could expand to eventually include a large variety of produce and even meat if animals are introduced on the farm in the coming years, said Jill Overton, food services director at Franklin schools.
Even when students begin growing a wider variety of food at the high school, Franklin schools will continue to buy some of its food from other local farmers, many of whom are in the Morgantown area and have the ability to grow food in the winter, she said.
“We can’t grow lettuce in November, December and January. We can still utilize the (Franklin schools) community and local farmers; they can complement one another,” Overton said.
“I don’t foresee too much competition.”
