Center Moriches Taxpayers Community Discussion Forum

Change will put more local produce in schools

September 18, 2009 by JOIE TYRRELL / joie.tyrrell@newsday.com

More fresh produce from local farms could end up in schools across Long Island and the nation under a federal rule change requested by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and recently granted, her office announced Friday.

"We have to let our farmers do what they do best, and that's deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to local communities," Gillibrand said in a statement.

She had asked the agriculture secretary in February to change an administrative rule barring local farmers from delivering pre-cut and packaged fruits and vegetables to schoolchildren. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Friday she secured a commitment from the USDA that will allow farmers to process fresh, locally grown produce for schoolchildren.

"It is a good idea and we will see what we can do with that," said Joseph Gergela, executive director of the Long Island Farm Bureau. Some Long Island farms already supply schools with fresh produce, but the change allows them to wash, slice and bag the items.

The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program in the 2008 Farm Bill authorized schools to buy non-processed local produce for students to eat outside of school cafeteria programs. Until now, the USDA interpretation of "processed" local produce had prevented local farms from participating, according to Gillibrand's office. The change is applied nationwide.

"Positively, we would look forward to any type of opportunity that removes barriers to increase our opportunity for procuring more local product," said Bill Kidd, assistant business administrator for the Middle Country School District.

Adrianne Goldenbaum is food services director for the West Babylon district, which participates in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation effort to fight childhood obesity and empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. She said the district does serve local produce but more would always be welcome.

"We are trying to open them up to as much nutrition as possible and this opens up another avenue for us to bring in fresh produce," Goldenbaum said.